The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza says the recent road works at the Tetteh Quashie interchange in Accra which has been suspended temporarily is being reviewed and would resume soon.
The Minister, however, explained that the exercise could not be undertaken without restricting traffic flow because the beams involved are extremely heavy and could pose serious risks if proper safety measures are not enforced.
He appealed to the motoring public to be patient noting, whatever approach that would be taken, it will still affect traffic flow. He gave the explanation when the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku- Agyemang visited the ministry on March 11.
According to him, recent works involving the launching of heavy bridge beams required temporary traffic diversions to ensure the safety of both workers and motorists.
“We want to encourage the public to be patient with us. We do not take any action with the aim of making life more difficult for commuters,” Agbodza said.
He explained that although engineers initially attempted to carry out the beam launching without diverting traffic, the exercise proved risky and had to be reconsidered after observing its negative impact.
“A few days ago, we attempted the exercise at night, but we realised the challenges it created, so we quickly pulled back. We are reviewing the situation again, but whatever approach we take will still affect the flow of traffic,” he noted.
The Minister stressed that the success of the project would require cooperation from the public, particularly motorists who use the affected corridor.
“We cannot do that work without the public being ready to spend a little more time in traffic when using that route. It is something we must do together with the patience of everyone,” he said.
Kwame Agbodza also assured commuters that officials of the Ministry experience the same traffic conditions as the general public.
“At this Ministry, we go through the same traffic as everyone else. We do not rely on dispatch riders. My deputy and I drive through the same roads and feel the same frustration, so we understand the concerns of motorists,” he stated.
The Minister further revealed that the Ministry requires additional personnel to effectively supervise road projects across the country.
According to him, some regions currently have only one or two qualified engineers managing several projects, a situation he described as risky for large-scale infrastructure delivery.
“It is dangerous to undertake major infrastructure programmes with skeletal staff. We need more personnel to adequately manage projects and ensure the quality of work expected of us,” he said.
He said government agencies must do more to inform citizens about ongoing works, road closures and expected timelines.
“Sometimes we assume the public already understands what we are doing, but we must make a conscious effort to explain the reasons behind our actions,” he said.
The Minister added that clear communication about temporary road closures would allow motorists and businesses to plan ahead and reduce inconvenience.
“If a road is going to be closed for three days, people should know in advance so they can adjust their schedules accordingly,” he said.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
