The government has committed GH¢4.12 billion to the construction of 252 kilometres of roads in the Bono Region under the "Big Push" programme, with a pledge to complete the projects before the end of President John Dramani Mahama's tenure of office.
The investment is expected to significantly ease transportation bottlenecks, improve the movement of agricultural produce and goods, and open up communities for increased economic activity and investment.
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, gave the assurance at a meeting of the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Sunyani last Wednesday.
Big Push
He said the government’s renewed focus on infrastructure development, particularly under the Big Push programme, was already yielding tangible results in the region.
Mr Akwaboa said the projects were critical to social and economic development as they would facilitate the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services while creating opportunities for investment and economic growth.
He said the RCC, in collaboration with the various municipal and district assemblies and other stakeholders, was closely monitoring the projects to ensure contractors remained on schedule and executed the roads to the required specifications and standards.
“Our people have waited for these roads for far too long and we recognise the importance and urgency of delivering them,” he said.
Roads
Among the major projects receiving attention, Mr Akwaboa mentioned include the 34-kilometre Sunyani Outer Ring Road, Sunyani Inner Ring Road and the 32-km Sunyani-Atronie-Acherensua Road.
Others are the reconstruction of the 80-km Jinijini-Sampa Road, rehabilitation of the 32-km Wenchi-Nsawkaw-Debibi-Sampa Road, 33-km Berekum-Sekwa Road and the Wamanafo-Gambia No.2 Road.
The Berekum inner-city roads, Sunyani-Abesim dual carriageway, Dormaa-Nkrankwanta Road and Sunyani-Buoku-Techiman Road are also among the projects.
Mr Akwaboa said the government’s commitment to infrastructure development was also evident in education, health and water.
Educational institutions
He said several projects funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had been awarded and were progressing at various educational institutions, including the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
He commended the municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) for their leadership and commitment towards ensuring the proper execution and completion of projects in their respective areas.
Mr Akwaboa also disclosed that the ultra-modern office complex of the National Communications Authority (NCA), which had been abandoned for years, was almost completed.
Security, galamsey
On security, the Minister said the region had remained relatively calm, although some cases of misdemeanour had been handled by the security agencies.
On illegal mining, Mr Akwaboa said the menace continued to pose a serious threat to the region’s water bodies, forest reserves and farmlands.
He said the Regional Security Council (RESEC) remained on the ground, working with relevant agencies to complement efforts to combat galamsey.
836-km highway network
The Regional Highway Director, Edmund Obeng, said the 252 km of roads under construction formed part of the region’s 836-kilometre highway network.
He said the network comprised 103 kilometres of asphalt-concrete roads, 482 kilometres of surface-dressed roads and 251 kilometres of gravel roads.
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