LEKMA-Lascala-Manet road to be ready in 12 months – Okoe Boye

Residents along the Lekma-Lascala-Manet road at Teshie would have to wait for at least a period of 12 months to see their road completely fixed, MP for the Ledzokuku constituency, Bernard Okoe Boye has revealed.

The MP says all other things being equal, the road should be fixed and fully functional within 12 months as per assurances given by the new contractor on site Messers DSR Holdings Inc.

Dr. Okoe Boye noted that he will do all in his capacity as the MP for the area to get the road ready for use per the stipulated schedule.

“I won’t sleep like I always do. This project was awarded to two contractors but they could not deliver. These two contractors, I followed them always to monitor and evaluate. I am going to do same with this contractor to ensure that the purpose of saving lives is achieved. When I spoke with the constructors, they told me if things go as planned , they should be able to finish within a maximum of 12 months,” he said.

“This project was started in 2013. On the 24th of June when they (residents) wanted to embark on a demonstration, I met them as the MP and told them plainly to give me four weeks and that, full works will start on the road because of some engagements that had started,” he opined.

Meanwhile, the MP has expressed gratitude to the government for the rather swift intervention to remedy the situation.

The MP is also commending his constituents for having the needed patience.

“We are grateful to the government and the people of Teshie for their patience. This is a road that leads to a referral hospital we wanted to help protect lives. We have an assurance from the roads minister that this will continue until it is done,” he said.

The 7.5-kilometre stretch, which connects the Spintex Road to the Accra-Tema Beach road has stalled since 2016. Unfortunately, it is the only alternative route to commuters around the Manet Estate, off the Spintex road.

It is against this backdrop that the government, in partnership with Messers DSR Holdings Inc, a company based in Dubai, has selected a contractor to complete works on the Teshie Link Road.

This follows an offer the company from the United Arab Emirates made to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to fund the road popularly known as the LEKMA road as well as some other roads.

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who made this arrangement known at press conference in Accra on July 21, said the company had indicated it would source for funds from the Development Bank of Belarus and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).

He added that a term sheet had already been forwarded by the Ministry of Roads and Highway to the Ministry of Finance and was yet to be subjected to Cabinet and parliamentary approval.