- Asphalt works begin on Ofankor-Nsawam Road Dualisation project.
- Contractor aims to complete main carriageway by early September.
- Minister visits site to address concerns about construction inconveniences.
- Project will feature three lanes, service roads, and interchanges upon completion.
The asphalt works on the Ofankor-Nsawam Road Dualisation and upgrading project have commenced, marking a significant milestone in the construction process.
The contractor, Maripoma Enterprise Limited, has begun laying asphalt on the main carriageway of the Pokuase to Amasaman stretch, with plans to continue with the Railway bridge to Pokuase and then to the China Mall to Pobiman sections in the coming weeks.
The contractor has assured the government that the 17.4-kilometre main carriageway section of the project will be open to traffic by early September this year, ahead of schedule.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, paid a working visit to the project site to assess the concerns raised by motorists and other road users about the inconveniences caused by the construction works and breakdown vehicles.
The minister’s visit was prompted by complaints from motorists and other road users about the difficulties they faced using the road due to the construction works and obstructions caused by breakdown vehicles.
To address these concerns, the contractor has deployed a grader to conduct periodic remedial works on bad portions of the road, especially areas that have not been paved. The Chief Resident Engineer, Kwabena Bempong, expressed hope that the asphalt overlays on the main carriageway would be completed by the end of August, allowing those portions to be open to traffic.
The minister directed the contractor to liaise with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to station a dedicated towing vehicle on the corridor to attend to vehicles that break down, mitigating the severe traffic situation.
The Ofankor-Nsawam road project, funded by the government at an estimated cost of GH¢342.48 million, will have three lanes, service roads, one interchange, two overpasses, and an underpass upon completion. The construction project has faced numerous lawsuits, including human rights cases and ownership disputes, which have hindered its completion on schedule. Despite these challenges, the contractor is working to ensure the project’s timely completion.
