Western Region to have 184 km road network constructed 2020- Minister

The Western Region will this year benefit from a total length of 184 kilometres of road construction projects. These projects encompasses asphalting and bitumen surfacing of major and link roads in the region. It is expected to bring some relief to road users and facilitate trade in the region.

Western Region Minister, Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah in an exclusive interview with Skyy News hinted that these road projects have already been tendered into contract, and that work on these roads will commence soon. He added that government has begun payment of claims that has been in arrears, to contractors so they could mobilize to site and commence work.

“This year, particularly, is the ‘Year of Roads’, and Western Region; we are getting our fair share of these roads. So all that we are praying is that the contractors will come to site quickly and then perform on the site all the time and finish with their projects.

“I believe that by 2020, a lot of communities in the Western Region will appreciate that this government really mean business” he said.

Synohydro Projects

Touching on progress made with regards to the proposed PTC interchange and other road projects captured under the USD2 Synohydro deal, Dr Okyere Darko Mensah disclosed that government as a matter of need to ensure the continuity of these projects, has taken a new approach to get contractors initiate work before a sod cutting ceremony is held.

“Initially we should have gone to Prestea to do that but I requested that the contractor move to site fully, do some work for three weeks before I go. But because of the Chinese New Year, they had to go back to China. So when they come they will start, and then we go and cut the sod. The same thing we will be doing at the PTC interchange.

“We just don;t want people to think that we cut the sod and leave. So we want them ti be working, we cut the sod and then they continue. That is the new approach we taking now” he explained.

Steel Bridges

The Region will also benefit from about ten steel bridges which are being secured under a €47 million credit facility from the Czech Republic. The Government of Ghana and the Czech Republic  signed a €47 million credit facility to provide 50 steel bridges across the country. Western Region Minister, Dr. O. Darko Mensah disclosed that work on these projects will begin soon

“We are doing one in Amenfi Central, one in Tarkwa and one Adakope… so very soon you will see a lot of these works ongoing” he mentioned.