Officials at the conference
As part of new strategies to build long-lasting roads throughout the country, government is undertaking the construction of roads in the country with concrete.
This follows a recent Cabinet approval for the use of concrete for road construction in the country.
Even though it costs more to build concrete roads, it is believed that considering the lifespan of concrete roads to asphalt or bitumen roads, it makes better economic sense to construct concrete roads.
The Roads and Highways Minister, Akwasi Amoako-Attah, who disclosed this, cited the Tema Motorway, which was built with concrete, is still going strong since its construction about 50 years ago.
The minister was speaking to DAILY GUIDE after the opening ceremony of the 2018 Transport Sector Review Conference in Takoradi on Friday.
It was on the theme: ‘Sustainability of Ghana’s Transport Sector-Exploring Innovative Solutions’.
The three-day event would enable transport practitioners and stakeholders showcase top transport as an important instrument for economic development, discuss future plans, identify challenges and chart the way forward.
He indicated that his ministry had begun the construction of roads with concrete on pilot basis. He mentioned the road at the Tema steel works and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) area.
“The road from the roundabout at the GTP junction to the Tema Oil refinery (TOR) area in Tema had also been awarded on contract to be constructed with concrete.”
“After the pilot project, the next area to benefit from concrete roads is the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis,” he added.
He pointed out that although it had an initially higher construction cost, concrete roads are much cheaper in the long run.
“Why is it that we are not building our roads with concrete and rather doing all this asphalt, bitumen stuff which become deteriorated after some few years? he queried.
He continued, “Ghana’s First President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was the first to construct such a road, the Tema Motorway, to link the industrial city of Tema to Accra in 1965; the road is still in use today.”
Addressing the conference, the Roads & Highways minister stressed the need for a well-maintained road network with good traffic management, safe and reliable transport services.
On his part, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, added that provision of urban transport infrastructure and services has been a major challenge over the years.
“And if we don’t find a workable and lasting solution to this problem, very soon, the network will come to a standstill. At the moment, we are working tirelessly to rollout Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations on all major corridors in Accra and other regional capitals including Sekondi-Takoradi,” he added.
He revealed that the ministry is ready to start the implementation of the Transport Sector Improvement Project, which is awaiting parliamentary approval of the credit facility.
The Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah, mentioned that the government has made progress in promoting the aviation sector through modernisation of airport infrastructure and establishing institutional and policy framework to enhance safety and security of air services.
She pointed out that available statistics indicates that there are 37 international airlines operating in the country.
“There is further indication of new entrants coming on board soon as a result of the conducive environment and high standards of safety and security in our airspace among others,” she indicated.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi