The government of Ghana has made a significant investment of GH¢4.12 billion in road infrastructure development projects in the Bono Region. This investment has covered approximately 252 kilometres of roads, including several ongoing construction projects. These projects include the Jinijini-Sampa, Wenchi-Nsawkaw-Debibi-Sampa, and the Berekum-Seikwa Road project, as well as the Sunyani Outer Ring Road project.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, disclosed this information at the fourth edition of the Bono Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards in Sunyani. The event, themed “Ethics, integrity and impactful journalism: Essential ingredients for societal transformation,” honoured nine deserving media practitioners and journalists.
According to Mr. Nketiah, the huge investments in the road sector in Bono are based on the region's strong agricultural base. Improved roads will reduce the cost of transporting farm produce to markets, enabling farmers to retain more of the value of their produce. This, in turn, will make it easier for businesses to establish operations outside major cities and connect previously difficult-to-reach communities to wider economic opportunities.
Mr. Nketiah commended former President John Dramani Mahama for his efforts in infrastructure development in the country. He noted that the President had shown urgency in inspecting projects, asking questions about their progress, and putting pressure on those responsible for their delivery.
However, Mr. Nketiah expressed concern that the nation had lost considerable time over the years due to delays in project implementation. He stated that when a road expected to take three years to complete took eight or ten years, the consequences went beyond the contractor and the responsible ministry, affecting farmers, traders, and businesses that would have benefited from the road.
The NDC National Chairman urged successive governments to learn to respond to national challenges with greater urgency, noting that the country could not continue moving from crisis to recovery only to find itself repairing the economy again after a few years. He emphasized that economic discipline remained an integral part of national development.
Mr. Nketiah also encouraged the media to monitor and shine a spotlight on ongoing government development projects. This, he believed, would ensure that the projects were completed on time and to the expected standards, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Ghana.
Key points
- The government has invested GH¢4.12 billion in road infrastructure development projects in the Bono Region.
- The projects cover approximately 252 kilometres of roads, including several ongoing construction projects.
- The investments aim to improve the region's agricultural sector and connect communities to wider economic opportunities.
