A well-known engineer in Ghana has spoken out about the government's approach to building the Accra to Kumasi Expressway, expressing concerns over the recklessness of the construction process. The engineer noted that Ghana, with some of the highest road casualty statistics globally, cannot afford to build roads with such lapses. The construction process, the engineer argued, involves more than just grading land and laying asphalt.
The engineer emphasized that a modern expressway is a multi-stage engineering project that requires careful planning, land acquisition, earthworks, drainage, pavement construction, structures, safety systems, and intelligent transport systems. The durability of an expressway, the engineer noted, depends heavily on work that motorists never see, such as geotechnical investigation and soil treatment, and earthworks — cutting and filling. A modern expressway construction goes through several necessary and critical stages numbering over thirty.
The engineer outlined the typical sequence of events in constructing a modern highway, including feasibility studies and route selection, detailed surveying and engineering design, land acquisition and right-of-way, environmental and social preparations, site clearance, and setting out the road. Other stages include the construction of embankments, formation of the road subgrade, drainage construction, culverts and cross-drainage structures, and sub-base construction.
The engineer expressed concern over the decision to send in the Engineers Regiment to clear a swath of land as the route the expressway would take, describing it as creating a bush path. This approach, the engineer argued, is a dangerous way to begin such a sensitive and financially burdensome task, especially with billions of Ghanaian dollars in play.
The engineer questioned the government's decision-making process, asking where the schematics for the project are and why the public was not informed. The engineer stressed that all these steps must be planned with various critical schematics, sometimes years ahead of actual work, and these plans should be available and widely accessible.
In response to the concerns, the Roads Minister has instructed consultants and agencies to accelerate design approvals and avert project delays. The Minister's directive aims to ensure that the project is completed on time and meets the required standards. The public deserves to know why the initial decision was taken and what measures are being taken to rectify the situation.
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway project has raised concerns over potential environmental and financial burdens. The project's success will depend on careful planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure that it meets the required standards and does not become a "killer highway" or a financial burden that could span decades.
Key points
- A Ghanaian engineer has raised concerns over the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, citing shocking engineering lapses and potential environmental and financial burdens.
- The engineer emphasized that a modern expressway requires careful planning, land acquisition, earthworks, drainage, pavement construction, structures, safety systems, and intelligent transport systems.
- The Roads Minister has instructed consultants and agencies to accelerate design approvals and avert project delays to ensure the project meets the required standards.
