Disclosure about the award of contracts for the construction of four bypasses on some portions of the Accra to Kumasi highway is welcome tidings.
For a journey which should take approximately three and half hours to accomplish, taking rather four and half in some instances because of the highway passing through towns such as Konongo and a few others, the disclosure is heartwarming.
The development, as announced during a press conference by the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee On Roads and Transport, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, is long overdue and we want to congratulate government for the feat even before completion.
We cannot wait for the execution of the project which the experts say will reduce the number of accidents on this critical highway which links the North to the South and also constitutes an important inter-ECOWAS road network.
Constructing such bypasses will help us reduce the time spent in traveling along the highway the economic dividend from which is significant.
The highway passes through busy towns such as Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi and Konongo and the costly inconveniences endured by motorists and passengers are enormous.
The evolution of road networks with time appears to have eluded our transport policymakers. With the growth of these towns through which the highway traverses, assortment of challenges have cropped up, the leading one being accidents as vehicles on long distances journeys pass through them.
Any development which adds to our highway dualisation project on the Accra to Kumasi highway in terms of convenience and economy occasioned by the bypass projects must be applauded and supported.
We call on the traditional authorities in places which would be affected by the bypasses in one way or the other, to cooperate with the contractors and government to ensure a speedy execution of the projects.
Only those who have chanced upon the Konongo traffic gridlock while traveling to Kumasi or even the North, will appreciate the importance of the envisaged bypasses.
The amount involved is enormous and so we demand of the local contractors who have been fortunate to be awarded the contract, to be up and doing. Let them lift high the banner of local contractors especially in the face of negative impressions many have about them.
This is one of the rare opportunities being offered them to shine and shame those who do not hold them in high esteem.
The time being allotted them to execute the projects is of essence so let them deliver on time, and quality job too.