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Reconsider construction of six-lane road project -Osei Yeboah urges leaders

Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah explaining to Mr Kobby Asmah, our Political Editor, the economic benefits of the railway line project across the sub-region.The sole independent presidential candidate of the 2012 election, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, has called on the heads of state of five West African nations to reconsider the construction of a six-lane road project from Lagos, Nigeria, to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and replace it with a double-lane return railway line project.

He said since the road project was at the feasibility studies stage, such a proposal was worth considering in view of its immense benefits.

Ghana has agreed with four other West African neighbours to invest and expand the Lagos-Abidjan highway into a six-lane road to boost trade among them.

The leaders of the five countries - Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire - met on the sideline of the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and agreed to commence the expansion project in 2014.

The highway will also provide a vital link to sea ports for the landlocked countries in the subregion, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. It is also expected to augment the productive infrastructure of the subregion and make the corridor more viable for doing business.

The five leaders have agreed to complete modalities for the joint funding of the project before the 2014 start date for the construction.

The sector ministers of the respective countries have been tasked to develop a blue print for the actualisation of the highway corridor project, and "this will be presented to the heads of state at the next ECOWAS Summit in July."

Sharing his perspective on the road project in an interview, Mr Osei Yeboah who is an electrical and electronics engineer, pointed out that the railway line project would come with a lot more benefits than the road project.

“As an engineer, the objective is to enhance the free movement of people and flow of goods and services,” Mr Yeboah, who had also worked as a Process Control and Instrumentation and Special Project Coordinator at Anglogold, stated.

In his view, there were too many problems associated with the road project and cited the many check points and undue harassment of traders and people on the current road network from Lagos to Abidjan.

As a result, he said that there were delays of movement at those check points.

A railway line infrastructure, Mr Osei Yeboah said, would check delays in travelling since it would be difficult to stop a train in motion.

He said because it would be transnational train, it could be faster because there would be less stops on the way.

He also argued that the stop points could be developed to serve as inland ports in the various five countries.

This, according to Mr Osei Yeboah, would open or improve economic activities in the five countries.

For instance, in Ghana, he suggested stops at vantage locations that could engender development activities.

He mentioned that railway line ports could be sited closer to the Eastern Corridor Road, another one in between Winneba and Komenda in the Central Region and the last one between Axim and Elubo in the Western Region.

“By so doing, we will be recreating economic centres in those parts of the country,” he added.

According to Mr Osei Yeboah, it was time for countries within the sub-region to bench mark itself with the developed world rather than the developing world.

I am hoping that the remaining ECOWAS countries would also join the project so that the railway line project would open up the entire region.

He challenged all political parties and politicians to contribute solutions to the myriad of problems facing the sub-region.

“ It is time we move away from opposing for opposing sake without offering alternatives; We need a modern opposition whereby we criticise government but at the same time offer solutions.” he stated.

By Kobby Asmah/Daily Graphic/Ghana

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