Pokuase road project to be extended

The road construction works currently ongoing on the Pokuase stretch of the Accra-Nsawam road are to be extended.

The extension will cover 18 kilometres and will convert the current dual road into a five-lane carriage on both sides to conveniently link the national capital to the Eastern Region.

Maripoma Enterprise Limited, a fully Ghanaian-owned construction firm, has been awarded the contract for the project, to be fully funded by the government of Ghana.

The extension

The project will see the interchange being constructed at Pokuase being extended to the Nsawam barrier, with three lanes and two service lanes on either side.

Also, seven underpass pedestrian walkways will be constructed to make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross to either side of the road.

The Amasaman Municipal Assembly will host the site for the project, which is expected to be completed within three years.

 Contractor on site

When the Daily Graphic toured the area yesterday, workers were clearing land to acquire the right of way on the north-bound road, bringing down some structures within the area demarcated for the extension.

Briefing the Daily Graphic team, the Project Coordinator, Dr Richard Kwofie, said the reconstruction was to correct the traffic bottlenecks on the road which had created a lot of inconvenience for road users commuting from Accra to Nsawam and beyond and vice versa.

“The area has become urbanised and has steadily developed into a residential area, thereby increasing traffic congestion, with the connecting routes and branch offs. Definitely, the expansion of the road will help improve on the traffic situation, which has become a headache for commuters who ply the road,” he said.

He said most of the work would be undertaken by Ghanaians, with a few expatriates.

 Right of way

He indicated that not much compensation would be paid to those whose properties might be affected, as that was done about 10 years ago when the road was first expanded.

“This road was constructed about 10 years ago and, according to the Ghana Highway Authority, all those who were affected at the time were compensated. This means if you are within the 90-metre gap, you are on government property and you will be asked to move without any compensation,” Dr Kwofie explained.

 First phase

He said the first phase of the project, which comprised the construction of the north-bound road, as well as the construction of some bridges, had already commenced.

He said they had also prepared jersey barriers which would be mounted on the road to shift traffic flow to ensure that there was no interference with the work.

He gave an assurance that the project would dovetail into what was being undertaken at Pokuase to minimise the inconvenience to commuters.

 Improving socio-economic activities

The Ga West Municipal Chief Executive , Mr Clement Nii Lamptey Wilkinson, commended the government for embarking on the project to relieve travellers of the stress they had to go through when using the stretch.

 “This is a very busy road, since it is the gateway to and from Accra; this new development will help ease the traffic congestion and ensure the swift movement of vehicles in and out of Accra,” he added.