President John Mahama has said the Government’s Regional Road Upgrading Programme is progressing to facilitate socio-economic activities in all 10 regions.

Under the programme, the President said, the government was sponsoring the upgrading of all roads in the regional capitals, after which it would be extended to Municipal and district capital roads.

President Mahama announced this when he inspected some major roads in the Western Region as part of his two-day working visit to the area.

The President inspected the Sekondi-Takoradi city roads, the Takoradi-Essiama-Elubo road projects, and the rehabilitation of some feeder roads in the East Nzema communities.

He said roads were the panacea to socio-economic development of every country, and his Administration would continue to invest massively in that sector to link up the rural areas to the urban centres.

“The construction of more roads, especially in rural communities, will help to transport food produce from rural communities to the urban marketing centres of the country,” he stated.

President Mahama, who also inspected the expansion programme of the Takoradi Port, commended the workers for working on schedule and urged them to work harder to complete the project to ease congestion in the Tema port.

He, however, said finishing the port, alone could bring maximum benefits, unless there were railways, therefore, said his Administration would revive the railway industry to help in the evacuation of goods at the port.

He remarked, “Currently, the delays and congestion that we experience at the Tema Port could be reduced if we complete this project…but that will be done well if our railway system is working.”

President Mahama appealed to the youth of the Western Region to take advantage of the projects to acquire skills that could earn them permanent decent jobs in the Region.

Dr Richard Anamoo, Managing Director of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, who conducted the President around the project, gave the assurance that the completion of the project would facilitate the movement of goods and services for Ghana and her neighbours.