President John Mahama has urged the contractor working on the Ofankor–Nsawam road to speed up work, stressing that the government is fulfilling its part of the bargain by making funds available.
Speaking during an inspection of the project on Wednesday, September 3, the President said the road is one of the most critical arteries in the country as it connects Accra and Kumasi, and delays in its completion continue to affect thousands of commuters.
“As the government commits to paying you well, you too must commit to moving faster on the road and also use quality materials,” he said.
President Mahama disclosed that the contract has been moved under the government’s Big Push programme, with GH¢14 billion allocated to the Big Push this year and an additional GH¢30 billion expected next year, noting that there will be sufficient resources to keep the contractors going.
He, however, raised concerns about the financial history of the project, questioning why the initial loan facility had been exhausted even though the road was not completed, forcing the government to inject an additional GH¢78 million.
“I don’t understand why the loan was finished and the project is not over. Was it that the estimates for the project were not done properly, or what happened?” he asked.
The President commended motorists for their patience and called on the contractor to ensure traffic flow is not disrupted while construction continues.
“I can see that drivers are happy now, and I hope that from now until you finish the project, you maintain a smooth flow of traffic even as you are working, so that you don’t impede the flow of traffic.”
He reiterated that the project must be delivered by June 2026 as agreed.
“We will hold you to your word. You say by the end of the second quarter next year, you should be finished,” President Mahama added.