- Compensation Dispute Halts Road Project
- Farmers Block Site Over Payments
- Konongo Bypass Eases Traffic Congestion
- Government Urged To Pay Up
Contractors working on the Konongo bypass road project in the Ashanti Region are facing challenges with affected farmers whose properties are within the road corridor and have not received their compensation.
The construction firms have suggested to the Ghana Highways Authority to speed up the process of payment to resolve the issue. From Wednesday, May 8, 2024, to Friday, May 10, 2024, the affected farmers invaded the site from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm each day with weapons, burning tyres to block the road and preventing works from being carried out.
The Juaso Police was called in to protect equipment and workers of the construction firms, as the situation became tense.The 15.4km Konongo bypass project is part of ongoing efforts by the government to dualize the Accra-Kumasi highway, aimed at reducing vehicular traffic and accidents, as well as enhancing the free movement of goods and people.
The bypass road, which passes through the center of the town, has become a traffic bottleneck for travelers, and the government is working to address this issue. So far, the contractors have completed the clearing of the road alignment and are progressing with the construction of culverts, bridges, box culverts, pipe culverts, and earthworks.
The consultant for the project, Ing Eric Prah Mensah, expressed concern about the government’s inability to pay compensation to the affected farmers and property owners, appealing to the government to fast-track the payment to speed up work.
The delay in paying compensation to affected persons is affecting the progress of work, which could threaten the timely completion of the project, according to Ing Eric Prah Mensah.The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work, stating that the completion of the project will help reduce traffic congestion on the Konongo township.
