The Vice President of the Republic, H. E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cut sod for work to begin on the construction of a concrete road in Ghana, decades after such a major undertaking in the country.
Construction work on the 5.4 km stretch popularly called Tema Steel Works and DVLA road is expected to take 18 months, and will be undertaken by two local firms.
Road construction experts say concrete roads last a minimum of forty (40) years, with just occasional rehabilitation works. Although it has an initially higher construction cost, it is much cheaper in the long run, and is more environmentally friendly.
Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was the first to construct such a road, the Tema Motorway, to link the industrial city of Tema to Accra in 1965; the road is still in use today.
Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony, Vice President Bawumia recalled his challenge to the Roads Ministry on June 19, 2017 to seriously consider the option of concrete roads to give a longer lifespan to the country’s roads, and commended the Ministry for the tremendous effort it has put in place to ensure the take-off of the pilot project.
Vice President Bawumia explained the choice of this particular road for the pilot project:
“Tema as the largest port in Ghana has played a very important role in Ghana’s economy. Tema is also home to major industries in the country and it is important to provide durable roads to link the industries to the port as well as other parts of the country.
“There are heavy industries along the Tema Steel works road. The current nature of the road is very poor and a disincentive to the industries along the road. To this end Government has initiated the Construction of Tema Steel Works and DVLA Roads. The choice of the Steel Works and DVLA Roads in Tema are based on the functional use of the roads by heavily loaded vehicular trucks. We do believe that the road when constructed and properly maintained should last over 40 years.”
The Vice President challenged the Roads and Highways Ministry to undertake research in the use of local materials like Pozolana cement, aggregates and sand in road construction with the aim of reducing the cost of concrete roads.
This, Dr Bawumia indicated, would also provide job opportunities for the country’s contractors and engineers.
“I want to urge the Ministry of Roads and Highways to sustain this policy direction in using concrete as the preferred pavement type on heavy axle roads like those in the industrial areas of our country.
“The need to train young and upcoming Engineers and Contractors in the use of concrete as a pavement option is also critical at this point so as to sustain the policy direction of government to improve road infrastructure.”
Roads and Highways Minister, Hon Akwasi Amoako-Attah, charged the contractors to deliver a top notch job and serve as an example to their colleagues in the construction sector.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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I wonder when all Ghanaians, regardless of political inclinations, will all look in one direction, i.e, development-wards instead of slamming good efforts made by governments in power. We should be able to clearly distinguish between real developmental issues and mere cheap politicking.This way, our country will experience real growth and every Ghanaian living in Ghana will be happy and comfortable, and those of us in other nations will also be proud and market our nation better. Cheap politics only benefit the politicians involved, not the ordinary citizen who can't even enjoy ordinary water supply on a daily basis. Ghana rise up beyond CHEAP POLITICS!!
Nana ooo Nana! you do all......!!!
Their fore-bearers criticized Nkrumah constructing concrete roads, what have changed? when we say Nkrumah was a 100 years ahead of them they argue, this and other projects like one district one factory, free senior high etc. how this Dankwa- Busia tradition has slowed our progress as a country.
GHANAIANS WE ARE JOKERS. I REMEMBER HON. BAWUMIA SAID THE WILL NOW DO ALL ROADS CONCRETES SO IT IS ONLY 5.4KLM. LIES TIME IS EXPOSING YOU. PREZ NANA SAID HE IS IN HARRY BUT THE FACTORIES AND THE DAMS AND THE GHC1.M ARE ALL LATE SUPPER INCOMPETENT NPP TIME WILL EXPOSE SUPPER INCOMPETENT NPP
Nana de work paaa. Ghana is working again. Support Ghana beyound aid agenda
May be is time for us to start eating roads. Chameleons (Always changing). No one hate NPP, their own words are hunting them. NDC was constructing roads and you said we don't eat roads now you are doing it and want us to praise you. noseeeeeeeeeeenseeeee
Is only a w!tch or the devil himself , who would bad mouth such a project,
Some one just said it all. satan himself is a member of ndc. this people are full of hatred envy thieievery, lies deceit just mention it. for them they commissioned a lot of projects that was only on papaer and shared the money. NPP will always put the money to use.
ALL THESE POMP FOR JUST 5.4KM? WHAT A JOKE.
LET YOUR NDC BRING ALL STOLEN MONIES FOR EXAMPLE DOUBLE SALARIES AND IT WILL BE DONE IN 1 WEEK HUH ?