Occupants and owners of temporary structures along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway who have yet to evacuate risk having their properties demolished.
On Monday, 19 January 2026, contractors working on the 73.6-kilometer Takoradi-Cape Coast road redevelopment project under the “Big Push” Agenda began demolishing structures along the highway.
The mass demolition exercise started from the PTC Interchange towards Shama, with sorrowful expressions on the faces of those who had been reluctant to evacuate.
Three units—one each from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, and the Shama Municipal Assembly—are knocking down every single temporary structure still resting on the shoulders of the highway.
In the final hours, some occupants of these temporary structures were seen busily attempting to salvage belongings before the demolitions.
The Municipal Engineer for Effia Kwesimintsim, Ishmael Adusei, who is supervising the exercise [from PTC Interchange to GNAT Hall, Fijai], explained that the contractors are no longer entertaining any further delays in the evacuation.
He indicated that authorities have granted affected persons enough time to relocate.
However, he mentioned that persons and businesses that have already begun evacuation have until Wednesday, 21 January 2026, to complete the process, or else have their properties demolished.
“If you’ve started, we will consider you. If you already have your carpenters and fabricators removing the structure, we will not demolish it. We will skip to the next structure.
“By Wednesday, we have to clear both sides of the road,” he clarified.
By all indications, the final warning issued by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, on Wednesday, 14 January 2026—to get owners and occupants of all temporary structures to evacuate before the demolition—does not appear to have been taken seriously by a majority of the affected people.
Many of these temporary structures along the highway have yet to be removed.
Background
Following the groundbreaking ceremony by President Mahama in October last year for the reconstruction of the Cape Coast-Takoradi road, the respective assemblies in the Western Region along the road intensified their engagements with affected persons.
In December 2025, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, and the Shama Municipal Assembly all issued evacuation notices to occupiers and owners of temporary structures along the highway.
This was met with some resistance from the project-affected persons, thereby compelling the assemblies to grant an extension of time to enable them to prepare fully for evacuation after Christmas.
According to the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Frederic F. Faidoo, the plan was to evacuate all temporary structures by 5 January 2026. However, this was not carried out until today [19 January 2026].
The 73.6km road project is being undertaken by two contractors: Messrs S&L Construction and Engineering Ltd., and Messrs Alkyro Jules Limited Company.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
