The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwasi Amoako Atta has cut the sod to commence construction of the Axim town roads in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.

The total length of road to be covered is 5.8km of asphaltic overlay.
The GHc12 million road infrastructure forms part of government's efforts to improve road networks in the country and also to make the various principal streets attractive.

It would be recalled that during the 2018 Kundum festival celebration by the Chiefs and people of Axim, President Akufo-Addo who was the special of guest of honour assured his commitment of asphalting the township roads of the area.

The 5.8km Axim Town roads will be constructed by Justmoh Construction Limited and supervised by the Department of Urban Roads.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony as part of his tour to the Region on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Axim Victoria Park, the Roads Minister, Mr. Amoako Atta expressed his profound appreciation to the good people of Nzema East Municipality for their overwhelming support.

He also thanked the Member of Parliament of the area, Mrs. Catherine Afeku for ensuring government fulfil its mandate towards this project and charged the people to rally behind her.

"I was called by President Akufo-Addo after the climax of Axim Kundum festival to construct the Axim township roads and I am here in the name of President Akufo-Addo to perform his function", he revealed.

According to him, the project begins immediately and is expected to be completed in twelve (12) months.

He added that the NPP government is committed to the development of the people of Nzema East Municipality and therefore urged them to embrace the project and support the contractor to complete the work on schedule.

The Roads Minister stated that government will not compromise on quality and value for money concerning the execution of all road projects in the country.

"We will do quality works for the people and I call on this contractor to be God-fearing and honest with the people to do quality work and I want to state it here that the NPP government will not spare any contractor who will do a shoddy work on our roads, such contractor will be punished", he opined.

The Roads Minister who is also Member of Parliament for Atiwa Constituency used the occasion to promise the Municipality to construct the Nsien Senior High School (SHS) internal roads to make teaching and learning at the school very attractive.

On his part, the Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie appealed to the Roads Minister to construct the roads in the Region to make movement of goods and people very easy.

He said the roads in the Region are very bad and do not speak well for the area.
He added that Region is blessed with natural resources but the roads in the area are nothing to ride home about.

"Our major challenge is road network. Roads are better than Hospitals, if we construct in the Region, we do it for Ghana as a whole", he saddened.

The Member of Parliament for the area who doubles as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku thanked President Akufo-Addo for listening to their calls to construct the Axim township roads.

She revealed that since 1957 no government has developed the area than the NPP government and that the project when completed will face-lift the image of the late Paa Grant who was the founder of UGCC/UP traditions.

"This Axim township roads that you see here was first started by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007 and unfortunately we lost power to the NDC and for good eight years they abandoned it and we thank God the NPP we come to power to complete it, let us all support President Akufo-Addo", she revealed.

Madam Afeku used the opportunity to reassured the good people of the Nzema East Municipality that, the Akufo-Addo led government is keen on infrastructural development which will lead to economic and social development as well.

She added "The projects we are currently undertaking in the Nzema East Municipality are just a tip of the iceberg, there are more projects intended to be started and completed soon within the Municipality. This is a sign that, the Akufo-Addo led administration is more of an action and vision driven one than some other administrations we have witnessed in the past".

She used the occasion to express her profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the support given to her constituents.

She also entreated all Ghanaians to unite and continue to support His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for the great work he is doing for this lovely nation.

"Let us rally behind President Akufo-Addo and his government and also pray hard for President Akufo-Addo for wisdom and long life and develop our area", she pleaded

She, therefore, used the occasion to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to construct a Landing Beach for the Chiefs and people of Axim.

Ms Afeku urged the Roads Minister as part of his tour to the Region to seize the opportunity to inspect the bad nature of Simpa Junction to Gwira Aiyinasi-Wiawso road.

She promised to collaborate with the contractor to ensure speedy pace of the project.

The colourful ceremony brought the scores of people from the three Constituencies within the Nzemaland and other places to grace it and ended in a peaceful manner.

The Minister for Roads and Highways was accompanied by some staff of the Ministry, Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Hon. George Mireku Duker, NPP Western Regional Chairman, Mr. Francis Ndede Siah, the media among others.