The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has revealed that nine (9) sections of the Asem-asa N1 Highways of Takoradi-Accra road, require immediate provisional maintenance works.
According to the Minister, thorough assessment carried out by the Ghana Highways Authority indicates that the specific spots identified have become dangerously risky for both motorists and pedestrians using the road.
“As you all know, this road is a very important road. If you look at it from Accra to Elubo, then you can understand how important it is for trade (domestic) and international trade, because a lot of the traffic comes from Côte d’Ivoire through here to Accra and beyond, but you will also realise that our portion of this stretch, from Cape coast, is very deplorable,” he said.
He said he has received more than enough briefings from Ghana Highways Authority on the subject to warrant an attention and immediate action.
“In fact, at some sections of it, we have some serious potholes that have developed and posing a great danger to motorists. It also impedes free flow of traffic and so you will observe that at rush hour, you will see Inchaban, Kojokrom, and even Nkroful Junction, you will see that there is heavy traffic there, it doesn’t help,” he noted.
“And so, I took a decision to engage with the Ghana Highways Authority about how we could do something about this” he said.
Consequently, the Minister said he is working with the Ghana Highways Authority to fix the aforementioned sections of the Highways before the peak of this year’s rainy season which is just weeks ahead.
Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after inspecting the ongoing provisional maintenance works, Joseph Nelson assured motorists that he will liaise with stakeholders to tackle the affected portions of the road and make it motorable.
“Mind you, this is a major road and with the new government in place, it doesn’t look like this is going to be on contract anytime soon. But the rains are also coming in very fast and so something needed to be done and so upon my engagement with the Highways, they indicated that they will be willing to help except that they will need some materials, quarry materials to feel this gaping holes on the road, and so what I did was to engage. You know we are lucky to have some quarry companies within the Shama District, so I engaged them, and they offered to help. And so, they are providing the materials for this job and so let me say a big thank you to them, big thank you to Highways engineer here and his team for offering to help for us to deal with this challenge that has been a bane, for motorists on this road,” he said.
According to the Minister, considering the importance of the road to trading activities along the West African subregion, fixing the deplorable portions of the stretch remains crucial and unavoidable.
“I am happy to see what work has been done today. Today is the first day that they have come on the road, I believe that from Beposo side of the road, you know there are some potholes if you observe, those of you who use this road, you know that we have some challenges at Beposo,” he said.
Joseph Nelson pointed out that the beginning of the rainy season could further compound the current deplorable state of the road unless fixed, hence the intervention.
“This is another place where we have had a huge challenge, that’s trucks that have fallen over at this very spot, and so to see this place (Anto section) filled up, and looking smooth, I believe that is going to enhance free flow of traffic.
“It’s going to help motorists ply this side of the stretch. From Cape coast, it will even be easier, it is going to make it easier for them, to travel on it, and so I am excited, that I mean today being the first day, I believe that we are going to continue all the way to be able to sort out all those areas where we have challenges” he remarked.
Is always, you know, heavy with traffic and some carrying heavy loads across you know the West African subregion, from Codevoiure, from Niger, Burkina, and all these other places.
Joseph Nelson commended management of District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), the Ghana Highways Authority and quarry companies operating within the Shama enclave, GDC Quarry, Justmark Quarry, Coastal Quary among others for providing the needed quarry materials for the provisional maintenance works which had become incumbent following deteriorating nature the Takoradi-Cape Coast Road had assumed.
He lauded the cooperation and commitment of these key stakeholders for responding timely and appropriately to his appeal which gave birth to the provisional maintenance works being carried out along the affected stretch of the road.
The Western Regional Maintenance Manager of Ghana Highways Authority, Emmanuel Kwesi Rockson who briefed the media on the extent of works being carried out, and duration for completion, explained that the intervention of the Minister will prevent accidents, breakdown of heavy duty vehicles, unnecessary traffic among other notable challenges hitherto impeding the transport sector, particularly along the affected stretch of the Takoradi-Cape Coast road.
