Roads Minister directs contractors to ensure Ofankor-Nsawam road is motorable

In response to growing concerns from commuters, Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza has issued a directive to contractors working on the Ofankor to Nsawam junction rehabilitation project to ensure the road remains passable for motorists while construction is ongoing.

Agbodza highlighted the need for continuous grading and watering of the road to mitigate the adverse effects of the project’s slow progress on drivers.

“They’ve run out of money. We are not expecting them to be working at the same space as if nothing is wrong, but the fact that they were almost nonexistent at the site, and today we can see some of the things the public was complaining about are being done.

“One of them is their inability to water the road to reduce the dust. Today we can see a lot of watering going on, we can see a lot more reshaping and rolling going on, which means that at least the surface will be better than it is.

“That is what is we are asking them to continue to do until a significant payment is made to them…They should continue to do their best to make sure that the public is comfortable…It should be reasonably motorable,” he said when he inspected the road on Wednesday, March 5.

Minister Agbodza reassured the public that the government is committed to providing the necessary funding to ensure the project’s timely completion.

He emphasised the importance of addressing the current challenges to deliver a fully operational road for the benefit of the community.

“The president is committed to completing all ongoing projects as long as the fiscal space and the financing of this project can be made available by the finance minister…We are not in a good place financially. Despite that we are committed to completing this project, because this is another priority project,” he stated.

Project Manager Abdulai Mahama shed light on the factors contributing to the delays, citing issues with compensation, the relocation of utilities, and other unforeseen challenges.

These hurdles have significantly impacted the project’s timeline, but efforts are being made to overcome them and expedite the completion process.