I hand over massive road works to Akufo-Addo - Mahama

The outgoing National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has done more investment in the road sector than any other government in Ghana’s history, President John Dramani Mahama has said.

Delivering his final State of the Nation Address on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, 5 January, Mr Mahama said before he took over office as president, “There was widespread dissatisfaction with the road network in the country.”

According to him, “complaints covered poor state of urban roads, feeder roads, and highways,” adding: “Many hours of sitting in traffic caused frustration and discomfort for urban commuters. Poor feeder roads and pothole-ridden highways increased maintenance cost for drivers, and, in turn, led to increased fares and transport charges for goods.

“My tenure of office has seen some of the most massive investments in the road sector in the history of Ghana. My vision was to finish off road projects inherited, such as Achimota-Ofankor, Awoshie-Pokuase, Tetteh Quarshie-Adenta etc.”

Mr Mahama said his government commenced and completed the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and also fast-tracked the construction and opening of the Kasoa overhead bridge. “We completed the Airport Hills-Burma Camp network of roads and completed the 37-El-Wak-Trade Fair roads”.

Mr Mahama further disclosed that his government invested more resources in the Eastern Corridor road project as well as asphalting roads in regional and district capitals coupled with massive investments in cocoa roads across the country, which had opened up the country significantly.

Mr Mahama noted that many other projects were ongoing such as the Tema Motorway roundabout decongestion project, the building of a new bridge from Flower Pot roundabout on the Spintex Road over the Tema Motorway into East Legon, amongst others.

He disclosed there are other road projects such as the Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange, the Pokuase Interchange, and the motorway expansion work, amongst others.

President Mahama will hand over power to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 7, having lost the December 7 elections.