About 400 properties will be affected by the reconstruction and expansion works on the Ofankor –Nsawam roads project.
The properties some of which are in road reservations include schools, stores and residential facilities.
The 17.85 kilometer Ofankor-Nsawam dual-carriage reconstruction project awarded to Messrs Maripoma Engineering Limited is expected to be completed in 24 months.
It involves the construction of a two km road with eight lanes as well as a 16.85 km road of 10 lanes from Ofankor to the White House stretch.
An additional two lanes will be added to the dual carriage way with extra two service lanes to serve adjoining communities.
While three extra lanes each will be added to the Pokuase to Nsawam dual roads to make it five on each side with the provision of nine pedestrian footbridges and an under pass at some points, with wider drainages, street lights, road signs and pedestrian walk ways.
Though the contractor have started earth works on portions not affected by any obstruction the Ghanaian Times has learnt that the delay in addressing the thorny issue of the affected properties and the urgent relocation of utilities lines could delay the project.
This came to light when the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta for the second time in two months visited the construction site on Wednesday, to acquaint himself with progress of work as well as get first-hand information on teething challenges confronting the contractor and ways to address them.
He was accompanied by one of his Deputies, Stephen Jalula, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Alhaji Awullo Abass, Directors of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), the Department of Feeder and Urban Roads as well as the Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Wilkinson Clement and the Eastern Regional minister, Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong.
The consultants to the project, Mr Kwabena Bempong briefing the minister and his entourage explained, that the contractor who has been working day and night has completed about 30 per cent of earth works and what is left now is the removal of structures in the right of way to speed up work.
He said the valuation officers of the ministry are working round the clock to resolve the issue and appealed to the minister and the municipal assembly to intervene.
Mr Amoako-Atta, satisfied with the level of commitment of the contractor said he has taken note of the challenges and assured of the ministry’s and government’s commitment to ensure the project was efficiently and properly executed.
He said those whose structures are genuinely affected would be adequately compensated while others in the right of way treated with human face and with dignity, there won’t be any ambushing of anyone affected by the project.
“Each would be dealt according to their situation. It is not government’s intension to cause the suffering of anyone on the project, everyone would be adequately compensated,” he added.
Mr Amoako-Atta who visited some of the affected sites directed the GHA to as a matter of urgency meet with the affected persons and have the challenge resolved within three weeks in other to give the contractor that free hand to work, adding “any property that will have to go must go, we have a tight scheduled to follow” he added.
He commended the Ga West Municipal Assembly and especially the MCE for always being there to assist the Ministry in most challenging times.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
