The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has directed First Sky Construction to immediately return to the Kwabenya, Berekuso and Kitase road and resume substantial construction activity by the end of the week. This directive follows an inspection tour of the road, where the Minister assessed the condition of the route and the status of the long-awaited construction works. The project has been stalled for a while, causing frustration among residents.
The Kwabenya, Berekuso and Kitase road project has been a long-standing concern for residents, who staged a demonstration on August 17 to express their frustration over the deteriorating condition of roads in the area. The poor state of the roads has created difficulties for households and businesses, affecting vehicles, public health, and access to essential services. The demonstration prompted the government to take action, with the Minister instructing First Sky Construction to remobilise to the site.
Minister Agbodza emphasised that the government's decision to advance the road project was not a direct consequence of the residents' demonstration, but rather based on government planning, available resources, and national development priorities. He explained that road construction projects are undertaken based on resources and national priorities, not demonstrations. The Minister stressed that protests by themselves cannot generate the financial resources required to construct or rehabilitate roads.
The Minister highlighted the strategic importance of the Kwabenya, Berekuso and Kitase road, which serves as a transportation corridor linking communities in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions. He noted that the government regards the route as an important transportation corridor, not just a local road serving residents of the Akuapem area. The project is expected to contribute to transportation and economic connectivity beyond the immediate communities.
Minister Agbodza directed First Sky Construction to return to the project and demonstrate measurable progress once it has remobilised. He stressed that the government will not accept a situation where contractors return to the site temporarily, undertake limited activity, and subsequently withdraw from the project without achieving meaningful progress. The Minister's directive signals a renewed push to move the project from prolonged inactivity towards sustained construction.
The Kwabenya, Berekuso and Kitase corridor is crucial to communities that rely on the route for daily movement, commercial activities, education, healthcare, and access to other essential services. The Minister's inspection provided an opportunity for government officials to assess the current condition of the road while reinforcing the administration's expectation that contractors undertaking public infrastructure projects should maintain consistent activity once resources have been committed.
Minister Agbodza maintained that the government's ability to execute road projects ultimately depends on the availability of public funds, noting that such resources come principally from taxation and borrowing. He cautioned against treating demonstrations as a substitute for the financial planning and mobilisation required to execute major infrastructure projects. The government's position is that the project is being pursued because of its broader significance to Ghana's transportation network and regional connectivity.
Key points
- The Minister of Roads and Highways has instructed First Sky Construction to return to the Kwabenya, Berekuso and Kitase road by the end of the week.
- The project is expected to contribute to transportation and economic connectivity beyond the immediate communities.
- The government's decision to advance the road project was based on government planning, available resources, and national development priorities.
