A total of 100 kilometres (km) of roads rehabilitated under the Rehabilitation and Auxiliary Infrastructure of Kumasi Inner Ring Road and Adjacent Streets Project have been inaugurated by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Vice President performed the sod-cutting on December 13, 2019 for the commencement of the projects under six Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies.
These are Kumasi Metro (Manhyia, Bantama, Subin and Nyiaeso), and municipalities comprising Asokwa, Kwadaso, Suame, New Tafo and Oforikrom.
Objectives of the projects included the improvement of quality life of the people in Kumasi and accessibility in all areas of the city, as well as reduce dust pollution in the environs of the projects.
Interventions undertaken included the construction of drains and culverts, road rehabilitation works involving surface dressing finish, with the contractor being Contracta Construction, United Kingdom, which received praises from the Vice President for completing the work on time and with no extra cost.
According to the Vice President, since 2017, some 1,180 km of roads, comprising 421km feeder roads, 264 km highways and 495 km urban roads, had been completed in the Ashanti Region and stressed that “this is very good for the Ashanti Region, but it’s not yet over”.
He explained that in addition to the 100-km road being inaugurated, 75 km of town roads had been completed in Bekwai, Ejisu-Kwaso and Manhyia.
The Vice President mentioned that 60 per cent of some selected towns being undertaken by Joshob Company had been completed in the Ashanti Region.
Concerning the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, he said about 90 per cent of it had been completed and involved the upgrading of link roads into dual carriage roads, expressing the hope that by the end of this year, the project should be completed.
The Vice President said there were lots of roads being constructed such as the 30km Anwia-Nkwanta to Obuasi road, which was 70 per cent completed, Mampong to Kofiase road, 85 per cent completed and Aputuogya road, also 70 per cent completed.
Touching on the Suame interchange, Dr Bawumia expressed the hope that it would start as Parliament had approved the project.
He also assured the people of Ashanti Region of the commencement of the Boankra inland port project next month.
Roads and Highway Minister, Mr Amoako Atta, cautioned those who had turned part of the roads into workshops to stop the bad practice, saying “these are the enemies of roads”.
He urged the Municipal and District Chief Executives to “be bold, strong and not show any favour to protect the roads” by ensuring such acts were stopped.
Mr Amoako Atta further cautioned the public to desist from damaging road signs.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, said “by the end of 2024, we will be boasting of good roads in the Ashanti Region”.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
