Rehabilitation of Tarkwa-Nsuaem roads begins
The government has committed GH¢16.1 million towards rehabilitation work covering the first phase of asphaltic overlay on some selected arterial roads in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality in the Western Region.
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Work has already begun on the roads which in total cover a distance of 10 kilometres. It is expected that when work is completed, the mining town will undergo a facelift and the inhabitants freed from dust pollution.
In addition, a fully rehabilitated town road is anticipated to bring about improvement in the health of the people and facilitate commerce and investment, as well as improve travel time.
The roads to be worked on include the old hospital road, the market low cost road, the Nzema Line road and the Nana Enimil road. Other roads are the Tamso Estate road and the Old Town Annex road.
The contractor working on the project, Justmoh Construction Limited based in Takoradi, has been given 18 months to complete the work.
Sod-cutting for the work
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Evans Paul Aidoo, officially performed a sod-cutting ceremony for the commencement of work.
He observed that a major disadvantage the region faced was its bad road network, but noted that fortunately, President John Dramani Mahama had realised the challenge and had come to their rescue.
He said other roads in the region earmarked to be rehabilitated were the 94-kilometre Tarkwa-Ayamfuri road and the Tarkwa-Bogoso stretch.
He gave the assurance that the government would not renege on its responsibilities but would work hard to improve on infrastructure and cocoa roads in the region in order for businesses and investments to grow.
Mr Aidoo said road construction was an expensive venture, especially when it involved the laying of asphalt. For that reason, he urged mining companies operating in the region to make improvement to road conditions part of their corporate social responsibility.
Co-opeartion
He urged traditional leaders in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality and other stakeholders, including the various transport unions, to cooperate with the contractor to ensure that a good work was done.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Christiana Kobina, said ‘‘today, we can all happily breathe a very big sigh of relief considering the pressure that has been mounting on the assembly to have the project take off quickly the moment news of the intended rehabilitation work was made public,” she said.
According to her, the project would go a long way to ease difficulties drivers and pedestrians had had to go through because of the deplorable roads.
Mrs Kobina said there were enormous economic and social benefits to be derived by all when the project was completed.
