Accra/Akatsi highway increases business in markets

Dabala-Junction, March 25, GNA - Completion of the Tema/Aflao highway up to Akatsi has increased the business in the Akatsi and Dabala markets considerably.

The two popular busy markets in southern part of the Volta Region, only about an hour's drive from Accra and Tema, are increasingly becoming a wholesalers market as producers throng there with goods at wholesale prices. Two local chiefs attested to this during the formal inauguration of the Sogakope-Akatsi portion of the highway at the Dabala Junction on Tuesday. But they called for the rehabilitation of feeder roads to enable farmers and fishermen meet the huge challenge of producing for the markets, patronized by traders from the republics of Togo and Benin. Togbe Adzove VII, Awadada of Agave, listed the roads linking Adutor, Tregui, Lolito as well as Akatsi and Ziope as arteries that needed urgent rehabilitation.

Vegetables are produced in the vast expanse of low lying fields to the South of the highway while the lands to the north supply the markets with mainly legumes, grains, root crops and cattle. The German government financed the 22-kilometre road at a cost of Ghc 22.9 million, executed by China International Water and Electric Corporation with Messrs Gauff Ingenieure GmbH of Germany and Conterra Limited of Ghana as the consultants.

Maama Sawyerr-Markwei, Ghana Highways Volta Regional Director, told the Ghana News Agency that the Tema/Akatsi highway had brought the grand plan for fluid road transportation linking the south of Ghana to the northern parts into focus.

He said it should be possible sooner than later to drive from Accra through Sogakope, connecting to Kpando and Hohoe through the Adidome-Ho-Fume road and onwards to the north. Sod for part of the Adidome-Fume road ending at Ho was cut by President John Atta Mills on March 04.

Mr Sawyerr-Markwei said other important road arteries were being developed to enable vehicles with high axle loads avoid the weakening Adomi Bridge.

Mr Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Roads and Highways who inaugurated the road, said the Sogakope/Akatsi stretch was part of the international highway connecting Aflao, Ghana's busiest gateway to Togo through Tema, Accra, Takoradi and linking Cote d'Ivoire at Elubo.

He said the current works on the Akatsi-Aflao road and Akatsi-Akanu, alternative, funded by the African Development Bank, would greatly enhance movement of goods and people within the area with corresponding increase in economic activity.

He said government would maintain feeder roads "within the influent areas of these roads."

"We want to assure you that some of these roads will be maintained before the end of the year so that our farmers and traders can transport their farm produce and wares to the marketing centres". Dr Marius Haas, German Ambassador, called for the maintenance of the road and cautioned that vehicles plying it should fall within the acceptable axle load limits.