Management of Goldfields Ghana Limited, Damang Mine has finally resolved to construct the road from Tarkwa to Damang in the Western region.
Over the years, government has failed to fix the 29 kilometer road which is in a very deplorable state.
Mechanic workshops have been inundated with broken down vehicles because of the poor nature of the road.
The project, which will cost about $15 million, is being funded by the mining giant.
In April this year, President John Mahama promised that work was going to commence on the Aboso-Huni-Valley-Damang road when he took his ‘Accounting to the people’ tour to that part of the region.
Addressing excited supporters who stopped his convey at the forecourt of Best Fm, President Mahama said he was aware of the bad nature of the Aboso-Damang road and would ensure that the contractor completes it to save travelers.
It’s unclear whether the President was talking about the same project Goldfields Ghana was executing or another one to be financed by central government.
However, the company has decided to construct it to provide some relief for residents of the area and some staff who use the road.
Sustainable Development Manager of Goldfields Ghana Limited, Robert Siaw, who disclosed this to journalists during a recent visit to mining sites at Damang and Tarkwa, said that the project would cost between $15 and 17million as suggested by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
“We are going to rehabilitate it and tar it in accordance with Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) standards,” he said.
Three contractors have already been selected by the GHA for the project which is expected to commence by August after the end of the rainy season.
The road construction would begin at Bogoso Junction; the Tarkwa end of the main road through Aboso to Huni Valley and Damang, which is in the operational area.
Currently, construction is ongoing from Tarkwa to Bogoso Junction where Goldfields intends to take over.
Over the years, Goldfields has been assisting its host communities by constructing schools, clinics, libraries, computer laboratory and providing scholarship schemes, water, among others.
Mr Siaw told BUSINESS GUIDE during the visit that “over time we are looking at having more impact and beneficial programmes in the communities and we thought that the road was one major project that can impact on the communities.”
That, he said, was because “a lot of studies have shown that a good road through communities really impacts positively, economically, socially, environmentally in stakeholder communities; that is why we took the road.”
“The construction is expected to be undertaken as shared value initiative which means that we’re doing a project that will benefit the community and at the same time have some benefits for the company.
“Tarkwa to Damang road is used by Aboso Goldfields Limited employees who are residing in Tarkwa and working in Damang, so eventually it’s a win-win project,” he indicated.
Work on the road is therefore expected to commence by the close of next month.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu