CODGHA Speaks on “The stalled Achimota-Ofankor-Apedwa Road Construction, Implications for National Development.”
In Ghana, roads are by far the most used medium of transport as our water and rail transport system have failed as alternatives to it. As a result, successive governments have embarked on road construction projects all in an attempt to ease traffic, reduce travel time, enhance trade, and facilitate the smooth movement of goods into urban centers.
It is against this backdrop that the Ghana Highways Authority (under the PNDC/NDC era) in the 1990’s, contracted Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners to conduct a feasibility studies on the upgrading of the Achimota-Anyinam highway. By October 1994, reports on the alternative by pass at Apedwa and Nsawam had been submitted. An estimated cost of implementing the project was pegged at 95.587 million US dollars, in addition to 2.173 million US dollars to cover the cost of implementing mitigation measures. The project was at that time to encapsulate, the duelling of the carriageway between Achimota and Nsawam, a by pass to Nsawam, a by pass to Apedwa, and minor realignments to ameliorate shortcomings in the existing alignments.
Under the Kuffor-NPP led administration, the government as a continuity policy started the Modernization of the Accra-Kumasi highway projects. Under these projects, some sections of the road were to be turned into dual carriage ways. The projects which were in 10 separate packages totalled about 245km. It included roads such as: Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota road, Ofankor-Nsawam, Apedwa-Anyinam, Anyinam-Nkawkaw, Nsawam by pass, Nkawkaw-Asankare, a by pass at Nkawkaw, Nsawam-Apedwa reconstruction, Asankare-Duampompo with another by pass at Konongo. Almost all these projects with the exception of the Nsawam-Apedwa reconstruction, Nsawam and Nkawkaw by passes were completed by the John Agyekum Kuffor administration.
However, the Mills-Mahama-NDC led government since their inception into government have shown disinclination in completing the rest of the projects left by their predecessor. As a result of their repudiation to show commitment to these projects, all constructional activities on these roads have stalled. For instance, the Nsawam-Apedwa road which was award to a Chinese contractor, Messer China International Water and Electric corporation in November 2006, which was scheduled to have been completed in November 2009, has delayed almost about 20 months. Also, the Achimota – Ofankor road which was also awarded to China Railway Construction has also come to a standstill.
Investigations and interviews conducted by several media houses all demonstrate to the fact that the Atta-Mills led NDC government have failed to provide funds needed to complete the rest of the projects. The Residents Managers for Comptram Consultancy and Ghana Highways Authority, Mr. Robert Kwesi Gyesi and Shelter Yao Lotsu respectively have also attest to these claims made by some media houses. As a result of their negligence and lack of commitment to complete these projects, the implications for national development have become serious. For example, Peace FM, a radio station at Mile 7, had to relocate to Abeka Junction as they could not grapple with the enormous dust that had to invade their studio everyday, but can every business located in the area do same? This question has to be left for the reader to answer.
Again, visits to some hospitals located in these construction zones have shown that, respiratory and eye injection diseases have amplified tremendously among residents in these constructional zones. This therefore puts additional stress on the already mismanaged National Health Insurance Scheme.
The life span of most commercial vehicles plying the road have also been reduced drastically, as the bad nature of the road is causing serious damage to the suspension of most buses. Coupled with this, drivers are forced to drive in low gears which automatically translate into more fuel consumption. This also put pressure on the amount of crude oil the government has to import into the country. The irony of the situation is that, these buses and their spare parts are imported from other countries and therefore their frequent breakdown and their resultant in the importation of spare parts from other countries amounts to capital flight from Ghana’s economy.
Finally, as the day goes by, the price of materials used in road construction is seriously sky rocketing. This therefore can sway the contractors to use inferior materials in constructing the roads, as the initial amount budgeted would have given-in to market forces.
It is as a result of these evidences, the Coalition for the Development of Ghanaians (CODGHA) conjunction with residents, businessmen, drivers and other users of the road in question are requesting that, President Mills should as a matter of urgency show commitment in completing these projects that were started by his predecessors.
Contact information: spokesperson ( Agyei Williams, mobile:0208428465) Email: Codghaghana@yahoo.com
