Motorists on the 40-kilometer N1 highway stretch from Asemase to Nkroful Junction in the Western Region are calling for rehabilitation works on the stretch to be expedited before the rains set in.
The project, which is being spearheaded by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, is a collaboration of the Regional Coordinating Council, Ghana Highways Authority with the support of District Road Improvement Program (DRIP).
The road from Asemase to Nkroful Junction, a key link between Accra and Abidjan, has long plagued motorists with congestion, particularly during peak hours.
Despite being completed in the 90s, the road lacked major maintenance, leading to its deterioration.
To alleviate this, the Western Regional Coordinating Council, led by Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, has partnered with Ghana Highways with the support of District Road Improvement Program (DRIP) to reshape and repair sections of the road, providing relief to drivers.
Some motorists using the route have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing works, urging stakeholders to expedite the process before the rainy season begins.
Commercial drivers Kofi Mensah and Nana Yaw, who regularly ply this route said, “We’re grateful for the pothole repair initiative, which allows us to drive safely and focus on other things. We’re urging the contractors to expedite work before the rains start to avoid further delays. Nonetheless, we appreciate the remedial efforts, which bring relief to car owners.”
Shama Municipal Chief Executive Paul Otis Dentu welcomed the development, stating it would alleviate drivers’ suffering and reduce vehicle breakdowns on the road.
“This issue has been a major concern for me, with daily complaints of vehicle breakdowns and accidents. I’m confident this repair will bring significant relief to motorists using this road.” He said.
The Western Regional Maintenance Manager at Ghana Highways Authority, Engineer Emmanuel Kwasi Rockson, highlighted the critical importance of this road section, noting it serves as a vital link between the Western Region and both the Ivory Coast and Central Region.
“We’re currently working on the N1 national road, specifically the Asemase to Nkroful junction, a key route linking Western Region to Ivory Coast, Central Region, and Accra.
“We’re sectionally repairing areas like Kojokrom, Inchaban, Nkroful junction, and Anto. To improve motoring, we’ve applied a zero-forty surface treatment to these sections to make it possible for the motorists to drive safely on these routes of the highways”.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson clarified that the rehabilitation work serves as a temporary measure to alleviate drivers’ difficulties while the region awaits contractual arrangements for the road’s comprehensive upgrade.
“We’re pleased to address the pothole issues on this route, which has been challenging for motorists, especially large trucks. Given the road’s age – over 30 years old – these challenges aren’t surprising.”
“This repair is a short-term solution to provide relief while we await long-term fixes. With the government’s commitment to infrastructure improvement, we believe this road will receive major attention for a permanent solution.” He assured.
