The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, asserted in the aftermath of a fatal accident on the Ofankor-Nsawam road that there is a need for drivers to exercise patience and caution to prevent unnecessary tragedies.
An accident occurred on February 5, 2024, near China Mall, claiming more than seven lives.
Expressing his sorrow during a media briefing after inspecting the road on Friday, Mr. Amoako-Atta labelled the incident as “needless” and stressed that such tragedies could be avoided if drivers exercised more patience.
He urged motorists to prioritise safety, value their lives, and exercise extreme caution while navigating the construction zone.
The Ofankor-Nsawam section of National Route Six (N6) is a crucial artery connecting various communities and facilitating trade between Ghana and neighbouring landlocked countries.
Rehabilitation work on the 33.4km stretch, part of the Accra-Kumasi road network, began in 2022 and is expected to conclude in July 2024, with funding from the government and construction by Maripoma Enterprise Limited.
Accompanied by engineers from the Ministry and the Ghana Highways Authority, Mr. Amoako-Atta extended condolences to the affected families and assured that the government would enforce standard safety measures at construction sites to prevent future accidents.
Chief Resident Engineer for the Ofankor-Nsawam Road Project, Mr. Kwabena Bempong, outlined safety measures in place, including increased watering of the road to reduce dust.
He called on the Road Safety Authority to address broken down vehicles hindering traffic flow and assured motorists and residents that the project would be completed as scheduled, providing relief to the community.
The Ofankor-Nsawam Road Project aims to transform the current two-lane dual carriageway into a three-lane road with service roads, an interchange, two overpasses, and one underpass.
With progress at around 50 percent, Mr. Bempong anticipates substantial completion by the end of the year.
During his tour in the Greater Accra Region, the Minister also visited other road projects, including the Flowerpot Flyover and the upcoming Adenta-Dodowa Road Project.
The Ofankor-Nsawam section of the National Route Six (N6) serves as a major arterial road for communities in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, Pokuase, Amasaman, Medie, and Sarpeiman, among others.
It also serves as a vital link for trade between Ghana and its neighbouring landlocked countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and for transit cargo to move from the country’s ports to those destinations.
Rehabilitation work on the 33.4km stretch, which also forms part of the Accra-Kumasi road network, commenced in 2022, and expected to last for two years, ending in July 2024.
It is funded by the Government at a cost of GH¢342.48 and being constructed by Maripoma Enterprise Limited, a local construction firm.
The Minister was accompanied by some engineers from the Ministry and the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), including Mr Stephen Jalulah, Deputy Minister of Roads; Mr Abass Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry; Mr Collins Donkor, Acting Chief Executive, GHA; Mr Samuel Akuaku, Acting Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Administration, GHA; Mr Lawrence Lamptey, a Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Maintenance, GHA.
Mr Amoako-Atta, while extending the Government’s condolences to affected families, he assured that, it would ensure that all construction sites adhered to standard safety to prevent such occurrences.
Mr Kwabena Bempong, Chief Resident Engineer for the Ofankor-Nsawam Road Project, said the Contractor had put in place a number of safety measures, including regular watering of the road to reduce the dust and enhance visibility.
To ensure that, he said it had increased its water tankers from the previous 10 to 16 to fast-track the process.
Mr Bempong called on the Road Safety Authority to move in and help tow all broken down long vehicles by the sides of the road, which were impeding free vehicular movements to avert any unforeseen circumstances.
He also assured motorists who plied the stretch and residents of the area that the project would be completed as scheduled to alleviate their plights.
Currently, a two-lane dual carriageway road, the Ofankor-Nsawam Road Project, when completed would be three lanes, service roads, one interchange and two overpasses and one underpass.
Mr Bempong said, “presently, our progress is about 50 per cent and we are hoping that by the end of the year, we would have gone substantially complete.”
The Minister also toured some road projects in the Greater Accra Region such as the Flowerpot Flyover and the yet to commence Adentan-Dodowa Road Project.