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The Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) is yet to close the South-bound lane that runs from Peduase Lodge to Ayi Mensah on the Accra-Aburi road.
 
This is contrary to an earlier public announcement which indicated that the road would be closed to motorists for five months to pave the way for maintenance works to be done on that section of the road starting from 6:00 a.m. yesterday, Monday, June 27, 2016.

Following the announcement, the  Daily Graphic visited the area but saw that the road had not been closed and there was also no sign indicating any such move. 

Meanwhile motorists were seen plying the road on both sides.

According to the announcement issued by the Chief Executive of the GHA, the closure was to enable the contractor in charge to undertake repair works on the scarp along the Ayi Mensah-Peduase Lodge road.

Motorists advised

The statement said motorists might use the Kitase-Berekuso road as an alternative and advised that traffic wardens at Ayi Mensah and Peduase ends of the road should be accorded the necessary cooperation. Motorists were also advised to follow directional signs placed along the route to ensure safe execution of the works.

The public was advised to follow the directive in order that engineers working on the project could start repairs without undue interference. 

It added that “temporary traffic control measures, public information and transportation and enforcement strategies are being deployed to ensure safe passage of traffic on the project road during daylight hours and night time.”

However, the Deputy Chief Executive for Maintenance at the GHA, Baba Kasim Nuhu, said the road would no longer be closed.

He explained that the sudden turn of events was to give the contractor enough time to place directional signs along the route informing drivers to use the Kitase-Brekusu road.

“The closure of the road will help us and also prevent deaths on our roads but it is important for us to create another route for the drivers, which has not yet been done, and so for now we will halt the closure till further notice,” he said.

Temporary traffic

Maintenance works on the road had become necessary following recent motor accidents on the stretch, many of which were associated with falling rocks from the hills. The situation had become a major concern and observers had even predicted that the hill might soon give way if immediate steps were not taken to address the problem.

The contractor who is to work on the project has been tasked to stabilise the slope and halt the falling of rocks which currently pose a danger to the travelling public, particularly passengers travelling on that section of the Aburi-Accra road.

Background

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the GHA awarded a contract worth GH¢11 million to CST Company Limited to fix the problem. The works under the project involved repairs on the slopes and placement of protective guards along the bends on the road.

Many boulders perch precariously on one another and seem ready to fall at the least disturbance onto the Accra-bound section of the road.

To make matters worse, some unscrupulous persons have also allegedly removed portions of metal railings that have been fastened to concrete pillars along the road known as New Jersey Barriers which are to prevent motorists from skidding along the road and into the adjacent steep valley.