Potholes on the Accra Newtown roads
Residents in Accra hardly take the issue of bad roads beyond complaining among themselves. In a departure from this norm yesterday, however, some residents of Accra New Town and indeed part of Nima had cause to complain about some really bad roads in their part of the city.
They were moved to complain about one of Accra’s most terrible roads by the size and number of potholes on the road linking the two sprawling Accra suburbs – the really bad section beginning from a little distance from the GRA office and continuing to sections along the Commando road.
Interestingly, however, one of the ongoing asphalting in Accra is close to the really bad road the contrast too glaring to be ignored and perhaps providing the impetus for the grumbling among the residents. They are wondering whether those enjoying the brand new asphalting are doing so because of their proximity to the President’s residence. Unfortunately they are wrong because there was no Presidential order to the state agency, Department Of Urban Roads, to reverse the state of the road in the vicinity of the residence as aforementioned.
The rains are here with us; the patchwork undertaken over the years to conceal the potholes now fully opened and even wider to catch the rainwater. It is only when vehicles land in them abruptly that the extent of the inconvenience and damage they cause can be felt by not only the motorists but passengers onboard if they are commercial vehicles.
Considering the amount of money expended in sealing these potholes against the time it took for them to open up from the pressure of the rains and axle weights, it has been a near waste of money.
It is for this reason that we think that the sealing of many potholes, except in the case of isolated cases on contract, does not make economic sense.
Asphalting, we are aware, is expensive but spending so much money to fix the roads especially the one under review is better and most welcome.
The maintenance engineers know better but since we are the consumers of their service, the motorists and commuters, we too can proffer some suggestions which when taken onboard can go a long way in making the best of the public purse.
Indeed when a few weeks ago we called their attention to the potholed riddled backside of our President’s residence, they were generous and swift in their response.
It was the DAILY GUIDE which prompted them and being a responsive state agency peopled by top flight engineers such as Engineer Awalu Abass and maintenance engineers such as Engineer Tsegah and others, a major facelift has replaced the eyesore that the road was previously.
If the residents think that a Presidential fiat of sorts got the Department Of Urban Roads moving to the location, they are wrong.
We pray this grace would be extended to this very dangerous road under review – after all we yearned for change and this must reflect in myriad facets including the asphalting of our city roads.
Given the expensive cost of asphalt roads, we too, the citizens, must ensure that those who turn streets into garages and fitting workshops stop the practice because petroleum lubricants take away from the longevity of asphalted roads.