The government has revived work on the long-delayed coastal road linking Independence Square to Nungua and the Tema Beach Road after a financing arrangement with Chinese partners collapsed, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has disclosed.
The minister said the 26.6 kilometre project, which started in August 2020, was now back on track and would be completed as part of a major facelift of Accra ahead of Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary in March next year.
“The project from the Independence Square all the way through Nungua to Tema was suspended because our relationship in terms of financing with our Chinese partners collapsed because of our debt problem,” he said.
Oswal’s intervention
Addressing the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his palace in Accra, last Wednesday Mr Agbodza said, “I must say that today, by the help of your own son, Oswal, that project is back on track.
“Today, we are trying to finish the road right from the Independence Square all the way to Tema, and we are determined to get that done shortly,” he assured.
The Independence Square–Nungua–Tema Beach Road project was awarded in 2018 following a procurement process that selected two Chinese contractors for the project.
China Gansu International Corporation for Economic and Technical Cooperation (CGICETC) was contracted for the Independence Square–Nungua section, while China Railway No. 5 Engineering Ghana Ltd. was selected for the Nungua–Tema section, including the Nungua Interchange.
The project, financed by the China Development Bank and the government of Ghana, was divided into two lots and was originally expected to be completed within 24 months.
Oswal commended
Mr Agbodza commended contractor Humphrey Oswal for his exemplary commitment to road construction and rehabilitation of critical road projects in the capital.
He described him as one of the “dutiful contractors who takes his work seriously”.
He said the contractor had consistently demonstrated commitment to projects awarded, with his frequent presence on project sites, including at night to supervise work and ensure that projects were delivered.
‘Dutiful contractor’
Mr Agbodza said that, to assess contractors’ commitment to projects awarded to them, he had personally visited one of Oswal Investment Limited’s project sites at about 9 p.m. without prior notice to the contractor.
The project was the reconstruction of the 27.8-kilometre Dodowa-Afienya-Dawhenya road.
He said the unannounced visit followed the contractor’s assurance that he was working round the clock to complete road projects.
“I consider Oswal as one of the dutiful contractors in our country. He takes his work seriously.
You will find him on site, blended into, as if he is just one of the other workers, day and night,” he said.
The minister said the contractor’s dedication had been particularly evident in the ongoing road improvement works in Accra, where the government had tasked him with undertaking several critical projects.
He said the government was determined to improve the road network in the capital as part of efforts to create a more functional and attractive city.
Mr Agbodza said the government had also directed that principal roads in Accra be given a facelift ahead of Ghana’s 70th anniversary next year.
He explained that Oswald Investment Limited had been entrusted with a significant part of the task, involving the resurfacing of major roads in the capital.
He said the contractor had adopted a work schedule that involved milling road surfaces at night and undertaking rehabilitation works during the day to minimise disruption to traffic.
Further opportunity
Responding to a request by the Ga Mantse for the rehabilitation of roads within Ga Mashie, Mr Agbodza said his ministry would assess the road network in the area and determine what could be done.
He directed the ministry’s officials to work with representatives designated by the Ga Mantse to assess the roads.
“If we come out with the studies, and it is something we can afford immediately, I have no doubt that we can offer him an opportunity to stay for a year,” he said, in reference to Oswald Investment Limited.
The minister said the assessment would enable the ministry to establish the extent of the deterioration and determine the appropriate intervention needed.
He noted that the Greater Accra Region received a significant proportion of the government’s urban road budget because of the size and importance of the capital.
“Probably, we spend 70 per cent of our urban road budget on Greater Accra.
And rightly so, because it’s the largest city and it’s the most important city in our country,” he said.
