Gov't To Spend $1bn On Roads

President Mahama addressing the media

President John Dramani Mahama has hinted that his government will in the next five years spend $1bn in constructing roads in all the cocoa producing areas in Ghana, particularly those roads in a deplorable state.

Mr Mahama stated that government would further seek for foreign funds to complete other road projects to enable Ghanaians carry out their day-to-day activities with ease.

He said government had many projects to attend to, but noted that important among them were the deplorable roads across the country which needed to be constructed immediately to enable farmers transport their farm produce to various markets.

Mr Mahama said this when he inspected the ongoing construction of the Kwafokrom-Akyem-Apedwa Junction dual carriageway at Suhum in the Eastern Region on Wednesday.

The terrible state of the 31.7 kilometre road, which is the last portion of the 252 kilometre Accra-Kumasi Highway, started by the Kufuor government, was expected to be completed by the late Mills administration in 2012.

However, almost midway through 2015, the road has still not been completed and the deplorable nature of the Suhum portion of the highway leaves much to be desired.

Many commuters as well as the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, led by the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, have expressed their displeasure at the appalling nature of the road and the challenges it poses to social and economic development, particularly to communities in the area.

Commuters on the Suhum-Nsawam road have had cause to complain about the road's terrible state, with commercial drivers who ply that route bearing the most brunt as their vehicles get damaged frequently.

Mr Mahama, during the inspection, said he was impressed at the fast pace at which the contractors were now working on the project.

He said they had assured him that one lane of the road would be completed in October, adding that his outfit was mobilising funds to ensure that the major deplorable roads in cocoa producing areas in the Eastern Region such as Suhum- Asamankese, Asamankese through Adeiso to Nsawam, and Akim Oda and its environs, among others, were all constructed.

Suhum Township
Mr Mahama further promised that since the dual carriageway passes through Suhum, his outfit would ensure that the five-kilometre Suhum township road was constructed.

President John Mahama was accompanied by the Roads Minister, Haruna Inusah and the Eastern Regional Minister, Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere, among other dignitaries.

FROM Daniel Bampoe, Suhum
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