Achimota-Ofankor road project takes off

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday performed the ceremony for reconstruction works to start on the 400.4 billion cedi Achimota-Ofankor section of the Accra-Nsawam road and said it was time Ghana developed a comprehensive National Transport Policy. This, he explained, would help to provide the framework to guide and attract the required level of investment in the transport sector.

Already, the Government has initiated action on this with the holding of workshops to collate views of the people nation-wide. The 5.7-kilometre Achimota-Ofankor project, which involves the construction of a three-lane dual carriageway with three interchanges and service lanes, is being funded by the Government and scheduled for completion in 36 months.

This would complete the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Nsawam road to ease the traffic congestion on the main entry point to Accra from the northern parts of the country.

Work is progressing on the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota section of the road, which is said to be about 80 per cent complete, while the 17.4 kilometre stretch from Ofankor to Nsawam has been completed and commissioned.

President Kufuor reminded the people that road construction was done at great cost and they must therefore take good care of the roads for the nation to derive maximum returns on the heavy investment. He raised concern about the theft and destruction of road furniture, such as road signs and crash barriers provided to help ensure efficient use of the roads.

The President called on the general public to be watchful and report all cases of theft and destruction of those facilities to the police.

The police, he said, should not relent in finding innovative ways of handling the problem, which, he described as worrying. President Kufuor said it would meanwhile be "worth our while to reflect on the suggestion that the nation should use durable but less commercially-attractive materials for our road signs.

"This is expected to reduce the spate of thefts and removal of road safety signs along the trunk roads. That way, road users will have the full benefit of huge investments we are making to improve the trunk road network."

Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, Deputy Minister for Transportation, said with the commencement of work on the project, in addition to others that were on-going all over the country, the Government was steadily implementing its policies and commitment to the provision of good roads to enhance and facilitate socio-economic development.

He gave the assurance that the supervising agency for the project would live up to its duty of ensuring that the project was completed on schedule, according to specification and within budget.

Sheikh I C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, said the Government was gradually but steadily achieving its development vision. 09 Oct. 06