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The government has begun the construction and rehabilitation of 80 roads in the Western Region, covering about 1,135 kilometres, with the aim of improving road transportation in the region.
The Western Region is endowed with minerals and forest resources and it produces the biggest consignment of cocoa in the country.

The region also has a maritime port which serves mainly as the exit port for cocoa, timber, gold, bauxite and other minerals.

A significant number of oil and gas companies are also located in the region.

Region deserves

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, who made the assertion in Takoradi yesterday, said in view of the wealth that came from the region, it was pertinent that massive work was done to improve the road network to support the government’s One-district, One-factory (1D1F) initiative.

Addressing the media ahead of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s five-day tour of the Western and the Central regions, the minister explained that out of the 80 roads that were being tackled, 27 were under the supervision of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), while the Department of Feeder Roads was supervising 34 of them, with the Department of Urban Roads supervising 17.

Status of road

He said the Western Region had a road network of 5,289.7 kilometres, of which 45 per cent was in a very poor state and deserved a facelift, while about 30 per cent of the lot, stretching more than 1,641km, could be described as good.

Additionally, he said, 1,623km of the roads was considered to be fairly good, adding that in the coming months the region would see massive augmentation to its road infrastructure.

Mr Amoako-Atta said the government was aware of the importance of good roads to the country’s development.

He said a sod-cutting ceremony would take place soon for the commencement of work on an interchange at the Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout in Takoradi, popularly known as Ezii, in addition to other high-profile projects in the region.

The Roads and Highways Minister said due to growth and population increase, Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of the Western Region and third largest city in the country, was currently experiencing an increase in vehicular traffic and assured the people that the region would experience massive social infrastructure development.

He said, “One demand echoes everywhere the President goes — the demand for good roads — and the government is seriously committed to providing them.

“It is the government’s firm belief that road transport infrastructure represents the pivot around which the economic development of the country revolves and we will not relent until the roads are delivered,” he said.

He assured the people of the region that the President was committed to developing the region, which produces a lot of the country’s wealth.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, said the President had always been committed to seeing the country develop, especially the Western Region.

He commended the people of the region for their continued support to the government and assured them that everything was being done to ensure that the projects targeted at developing the region were delivered.

On day one of the President’s visit, he inspected ongoing road projects in the Ahanta West, Elembelle, Nzema East and Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipalities.