Following public outcry over the deplorable nature of roads in the Ashanti Region, particularly the regional capital – Kumasi, the Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has assured the roads will be fixed soon.
The majority of roads, he said, have already been awarded on contract – with a few others still undergoing various procurement stages to enable the contractors proceed to site and commence work.
The period 2017 to the first quarter of 2018, he said, has been used to lay a firm foundation for road network development; and the results of the preparation will be become manifest by close of the year, when things begin to take shape.
He said out of about 30 road projects under urban roads, eight have been awarded on contract although some processes have to be followed before actual work begins.
The minister, who was speaking at a press conference on the state of roads in the region at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Kumasi, noted that under feeder road network development, 13 road projects have been awarded on contract – with about 41 also undergoing some routine maintenance.
He mentioned that there will be an asphalt overlay from KNUST Junction to Anloga Junction as well as other works which will also proceed from there to the Airport Roundabout to Sofoline Interchange through to the Asokwa Interchange, to complete the ring-road development in the Kumasi Metropolis.
He also hinted that some roads are being considered for conversion into dual-carriage roads, to ease traffic congestion within the Kumasi Metropolitan area among others.
Roads captured under ‘periodic maintenance projects’, which have been awarded on contract and are on-going, are estimated to cost GH¢32,031,604.
Those categorised under ‘emergency projects’, which are also on-going, are estimated to cost GH¢75,154,121.
In total, roads that have been listed for rehabilitation and upgrading are estimated to cost GH¢721,200,464, while other projects waiting to be awarded on contract will cost an estimated GH¢449,400,281.
The press conference followed public outcry in Kumasi over the unmotorable state of roads, a situation which is increasingly affecting movement – especially when it rains.
