The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced that the construction of the Tema-Kpone Junction road has been hindered due to the absence of a valid contract and an approved scope of work. According to him, the project will be restructured and completed under the government's Big Push initiative. This move aims to address the concerns of commuters and heavy-duty vehicle operators who have been affected by the poor condition of the road.
Mr. Agbodza made these remarks during a tour of Big Push projects in the Greater Accra Region. He stated that the existing arrangement for the road had to be completely overhauled before work could proceed effectively. The Minister questioned the contractor's possession of a valid contract, emphasizing that there was no approved contract or scope of work guiding the project when President John Mahama assumed office.
The lack of a valid contract and scope of work has created the impression among residents and businesses in the area that the contractor was simply not working or was not being paid. Mr. Agbodza explained that President Mahama has directed that the road from the TOR roundabout through the relevant section be completed as a concrete dual carriageway, while the stretch from Medina to the Kpone Barrier will also be completed.
The Minister announced that the project has now been brought under the Big Push programme, with the government committed to ensuring its completion. He said, "We are here today to first of all, through Urban Roads' directive to you, resume full operations on the project, and we'll cover the full cost of what we are going to do." This move is expected to provide relief to commuters and heavy-duty vehicle operators who have been affected by the poor condition of the road.
The Tema-Kpone road has been a major concern for some time, with its poor condition causing significant inconvenience. Tanker drivers recently staged a sit-down strike to demand urgent government intervention over the state of the road. The Minister also questioned the level of support from corporate institutions operating within the Tema industrial enclave towards improving road infrastructure in the area.
Mr. Agbodza noted that major companies such as VALCO and the Tema Oil Refinery operate around the area and benefit from the road network. He expressed concern that corporate citizens are often unwilling to contribute to road infrastructure development, unlike their willingness to pay for electricity and water extensions. The Minister emphasized the need for corporate institutions to support road infrastructure development in the area.
The government's commitment to completing the Tema-Kpone road project is expected to bring relief to commuters and heavy-duty vehicle operators. The project is part of the Big Push initiative, which aims to improve road infrastructure in the country. The Minister's announcement has provided hope that the project will be completed soon, alleviating the suffering of those affected by the poor condition of the road.
Key points
- The Tema-Kpone road project has been hampered by the lack of a valid contract and approved scope of work.
- The government has committed to completing the project under the Big Push initiative.
- Corporate institutions operating in the area have been urged to support road infrastructure development.
