COVID-19 won’t stop ‘Year of Roads’-Finance Minister

The government has reiterated its commitment to a promise to prioritize roads despite the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta revealed government’s determination during his presentation of the 2020 mid-year supplementary budget review.

The Minister said despite “the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, substantial progress has been made.”

Last year, the Akufo-Addo administration announced that 2020 a year of roads, believed to have been premised on the feedback that 2019 was a year of rage over roads.

By November last year, the administration was hit with at least 19 reported demonstrations over terrible roads, theGhanaReport did the news count.

The Finance Minister announced progress made in constructing new roads as elections beckon in December 2020.

The proof includes the Tema Motorway Roundabout, a 3 – tier interchange which has been completed and commissioned.

Part of the list is a gang of yet-to-be completed Pokuase Interchange under the Accra Urban Transport Project. This involves the construction of a 4-tier interchange. Progress currently stands at 74%; Obetsebi Lamptey Circle Interchange and ancillary works (Phase 1) currently at 45 percent completion; Tamale Interchange Project which is 40% complete; and the Kumasi-Lake Roads and Drainage Extension project, at 55% completion as at end June, 2020.

“Residents of all urban centres, especially Accra, Ho, Kumasi and Takoradi,
are seeing continuing improvements in inner-city roads in their metropolis. In addition, construction of critical inter-regional road projects and bridges, including the Eastern Corridor Road Phase I, are all at various stages of completion.

“Road contractors have seen increased payment of claims by this Government. We have paid road contractors approximately GH¢ 6.4 billion from 2017 to date. That substantially helps them to meet their obligations and sustain their operations,” Minister said.

The minister’s evidence of accomplished road projects to the lawmakers received cheers and boos from both sides of the house.

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The budget review provides an extensive update on road projects across the country.