…as total progress hits 65%
Phase two of rehabilitating the National Trunk Road N8 project, which connects Cape Coast and Kumasi, is expected to be completed by November next year, Construction Manager for the project, Yoshioka Shingo, has said.
Phase two of the project is a continuation of phase one – which is a 60km road, and has helped to improve the road section between Assin Praso and Assin Bekwai in the Central Region.
The project is still underway and is now focusing on the rehabilitation of 31.2km of road section between Assin Fosu and Assin Praso via asphalt concrete pavement, dualisation of a 1.2km section in the centre of the Assin Fosu township to a 4-lane carriageway, reconstructing the railway underpass bridge with a reinforced box culvert, and reconstruction and rehabilitation of drainage structures between Assin Fosu and Assin Praso.
The project is a grant aid from the government of Japan and is being implemented through the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA). The project’s total grant value is 6.849 million Japanese Yen, which is approximately US$62.3million.
During a press tour with the Japan Embassy team to assess the project’s progress, Mr. Shingo revealed that it has had no challenges except procurement of materials which sometimes delays – but residents’ collaboration has been good.
“This area is downstream and not like other places, but we have been able to work on the drainage and everything is okay now. We are working on other parts of the road and will finish within the estimated period.”
The First Secretary for Development Cooperation, Katsumura Akihisa – interacting with journalists at end of the tour, mentioned that the N8 that connects Cape Coast and Kumasi is one of the major trunk roads for transporting export commodities; therefore it is necessary for it to be in good shape.
However, he indicated that he is impressed with the work so far, adding that: “This is the first time of visiting this project site, and I know the Japanese Embassy is satisfied with the project so far”. He said Japan’s support to Ghana began some years back, and will continue providing infrastructural support to the country.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Nicholas Kofi Baako, expressed his gratitude to the team from the Embassy; saying the road construction has brought hope to residents of the entire township. He called on the team to also consider giving a facelift to about 5km of road that is also in bad shape.
“I am very appreciative of what you have done and my people, too are happy. We had a discussion with the consultant about whether there could be an extension to reach about 5km, which is also part of the community but in a bad condition. So, we are pushing the appeal through you to see whether something can be done about it for us.”
