Awoshie-Pokuase road project begins

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday cut the sod for construction work to begin on the Awoshie-Pokuase road in the north-western part of Accra, amidst excitement among the residents of the area.

The 100million euro road project is the first major infrastructure project in the area, which is increasingly sprawling with development.

It involves the construction of a combination of three and two dual carriage lanes on the 15 kilometer road, which will have service lanes, bicycle lanes and walkways.

In addition, transport terminals, markets, sanitation and water supply facilities would be developed along the stretch which begins from Awoshie junction on the Abeka-Mallam road, through Awoshie, Anyaa, Ablekuma, Olebu and Anomorley to Pokuase on the Accra Nsawam road.

The African Development Bank is providing a grant of 63million euros, while the French Development Agency is providing 30million euros and a counterpart funding of 7million euros from the government of Ghana, to finance the three year project.

As a fulfillment of a campaign promise the President made to the residents in the area, the project, is aimed at improving road transport and accessibility to the northwestern corridor on the Accra.

Cutting the sod for the project, which comes ahead his nationwide tour to assess the progress of development projects across the country, President Mills expressed delight that the project was taking off.

“I am happy that we have made a beginning,” he stressed, and charged the contractors to commence work in earnest since the funds were available.

Commenting on the excitement that characterized the event, he thanked the chiefs and residents who turned out in their large numbers to witness the sod cutting, but told them the project was not a favour from the government.

“You deserve this project,” he said, adding that the project was long overdue.

According to him the essence of governance was to improve the welfare of the people by providing facilities and good conditions that can ensure better livelihood and sustainable development.

He also demanded quality works from the contractors and urged them to take appropriate measures to ensure that the residents suffered the least inconvenience from the construction works.

The President called for the cooperation of the residents for a successful
Project and assured them that all those affected by the project would be duly compensated.

“We need your cooperation and support for this project,” he appealed, and promised the chiefs and people of the area of government’s continued assistance to address other development challenges.

Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, in his address, described the project as a unique intervention of the government to develop the road network in the region.

He explained that the project has a community upgrading infrastructure component which consist of constructing secondary roads, drainage facilities and sanitation facilities along the stretch. END