The infrastructural needs of the country, especially in the roads sector, cannot be overemphasised.
It is for this reason that this sector constitutes one of the major expenditures of governments to address the existing infrastructural deficits.
Political parties campaign on this subject when they go seeking for votes from the people, because they know how dear the subject is to the hearts of Ghanaians.
The Accra to Kumasi road is the most critical highway in the country, as it links the South with the North and even Burkina Faso and Mali as part of the ECOWAS road network.
Unfortunately, travelling between the two cities of Accra and Kumasi still takes not less than five hours because of the state of the road. In recent times, the state of the road has even worsened, posing further danger to road users.
Sometimes we wonder why so many years after independence the road has still not been dualised to reduce the many fatal accidents which continue to be recorded on the highway, and to expedite the movement of persons and goods between the North and South.
It was heartwarming therefore when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration commenced the dualisation of the road to address the challenges aforementioned during the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
When the stalled Amasaman to Nsawam stretch created challenges for travellers and motorists recently, the subject attracted public discourses; the link which is part of the highway under review. Eventually, the contractor returned to site, and what a relief that was!
President John Mahama’s announcement about the commencement of a brand new six-lane project to replace the dual one under construction came as a surprise to observers of government works inherited from their predecessors.
Will this one too be abandoned until an NPP government returns to power?
The aforementioned concern was informed by the fact that the dualisation project started under the Kufuor administration was abandoned when the Mills government took over. The Akufo-Addo government returned to the project, and now the signs are that it would be abandoned regardless of the stage it has reached.
Concerns have often been raised about the abandonment of projects initiated by previous governments, something a constitutional provision has addressed under Article 35 (7) of the Constitution.
The President’s six-lane project presupposes that the ongoing dual carriageway physical works which are between 58% and 100% will cease. Should we commit fresh budgets for a completely new road in the face of the dual carriageway at a time when national needs are varied?
The President’s promise that the project would be completed within his last term provokes questions as to whether this is feasible.
The former Works and Roads Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye’s concern about the new project calls for the attention of Ghanaians.
With consultancy, feasibility and related tasks not yet commenced, the former minister’s query that the President’s promise is untenable is worth considering.
Of more concern to Ghanaians however, should be the cost effectiveness of projects and nothing else.
Should we allow the start of a new road project when there is already one being worked upon? No. Allowing that doesn’t make economic sense.
We do not know what informed the President’s decision to abandon what was already started and commence such an ambitious project when funds going to be earmarked for it could be used for other works elsewhere.
Many of the regions across the country are crying for infrastructural upgrades.
We have taken note of the excuse of cost overruns as being the reason for the President’s decision, but this does not sound convincing.
We pray that the President reconsiders his decision in the interest of the public purse and good governance.