The government is to undertake a major facelift of principal streets in Accra ahead of the nation’s 70th Independence anniversary in March 2027, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has said.
He said the President, John Dramani Mahama, had directed the ministry to ensure that major roads in the capital were resealed before the anniversary as part of measures to give the city a new look.
“Accra is our number one city, and it is on us to make sure that we support the Ga Mantse and everybody to make it a pleasant place for us all to be proud about,” the minister said.
Courtesy call
Speaking during a courtesy call on Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his palace in Accra, yesterday, Mr Agbodza said: “The task has been entrusted to Oswald Investment Limited, whose personnel have already been working on sections of the capital’s roads, particularly at night, to minimise disruption to traffic,” he said.
The visit, which was at the invitation of the Ga Mantse, formed part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the ministry and traditional authorities on road development and other infrastructure projects in the capital.
Mr Agbodza was accompanied by his deputy, Alhassan Suhuyini; the Chief Director of the ministry, Samuel Kwasi Akuaku, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mallam Issah Ishak.
Stalled projects
Mr Agbodza said prior to the swearing-in of President Mahama, almost all road projects in the country were suspended even before the 2024 election.
He mentioned some of the critical projects, including the Ofankor-Nsawam highway, the Kasoa, Ashaiman to Akosombo and Tema Motorway to Prampram, all of which were stalled and “it was a big problem for everybody in the country, including the Ga Mantse”.
He added that from the Independence Square, along the beach road through to Nungua to Tema was also suspended because “our financing relationship with our Chinese partners collapsed as a result of our debt problem”.
“I must say that today, with the help of Oswald, that project is back on track and we are trying to complete it; we are determined to get that done shortly,” the minister said.
He expressed appreciation to the Ga Mantse for embracing government policies, especially issues relating to sanitation.
“We appreciate that level of leadership as it means that you are ready to work with all of us to make sure that we bring the city to the standard expected of us,” the minister said.
The Ga Mantse expressed appreciation for the initiative and urged the minister to include areas within Ga Mashie, where he said congestion and prolonged deterioration had made movement difficult.
“The road network within Ga Mashie has become very problematic because of the congestion.
There is a spillover onto the roads, and to have the roads to deteriorate the way they have, it makes it absolutely impossible to live.
“It is like living in a rural setting in an urban city, and that is what it looks like,” he said.
