Accra, Dec. 04, GNA-The Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa NaaAbukari II, has honoured Dr Abass Mohammed Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, for his outstanding contributions to Ghana’s road and transportation infrastructure development.
“You have dedicated your life to ensuring that citizens of Ghana, and indeed the good people of Dagbon, have good and safe road networks,” the Overlord stated, in a citation presented to him.
The Ya Na praised Mr Awolu for his unwavering dedication to improving the road network across the nation, particularly, in Dagbon and Northern Ghana.
This recognition took place over the weekend in Yendi, in the Northern Region, at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a new Gbewaa Palace.
The construction of a modern Gbewaa Palace marks a significant milestone in the history of Dagbon and reflects the unity and resilience of its people, an official statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, said Wednesday.
At an estimated cost of GHS60 million, the Gbewaa Palace complex comprises a main palace where the King and his immediate family will reside, a Zee; the residence of the King’s relatives, a Katinn-in, a Gbauzaglin, a Sampa Pavillion, a mosque, a museum and a durbar ground, among others.
The construction of the main palace complex is expected to start immediately with an amount of GHS15 million raised so far out of the estimated cost.
In the citation, Yaa Naa Abukari II, described Dr Awolu as a proud son of Dagbon and an accomplished engineer with more than years of experience in the highway and transportation sectors in Ghana.
This spans transportation planning, highway engineering and planning, traffic management, and road safety.
The Overlord said that as the Director of the Department of Urban Roads from 2013 to 2021, and now as Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Dr Awolu hadoverseen many landmark projects.
Notable among these are the Tamale Interchange—the first in Northern Ghana—and the historic four-tier Pokuase Interchange in Accra, the first of its kind in West Africa,which received the prestigious FIDIC Award in London in2022 for its innovative design and cost efficiency.
In Dagbon, he said, Dr Awolu’s efforts had led to the rehabilitation and upgrading of numerous roads, significantly improving connectivity and economic opportunities.
Some of the road projects were town roads in Yendi, Walewale, Salaga, and Gushegu, as well as major highways such as the Tamale-Yendi Road and the Gushegu-Karaga Road.
Dr Awolu also supervised paving works at the Yaa Naa’s Palace in Savelugu, underscoring his commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
“You provided leadership for many government road projects within Dagbon. Indeed, Ghana and the good people of Dagbon have benefitted immensely from your selflessness, hard work, and dedication,” the Yaa Naa stressed.
“Dr Awolu’s contributions to Ghana’s road infrastructure extend far beyond Northern Ghana, leaving a lasting imprint on every corner of the country,” according to the statement.
“His oversight in Accra has delivered some of the capital’s most iconic projects, including the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, a pivotal hub in the city’s transportation network, the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange Phases One which as enhanced traffic flow and reduced congestion in the heart of Accra.
“Dr. Awolu has also been instrumental in public transport reforms in Accra, helping to establish the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executives (GAPTE) and the city’s first dedicated bus route along the Amasaman-Accra corridor,” it noted
“Dr Awolu’s technical insight and commitment to value-for-money principles have set a benchmark in Ghana’s road sector.
“Under his guidance, the budget initially planned for a three-tier interchange at Pokuase was optimised to deliver a four-tier structure, showcasing his efficiency in resource management.
“His work extends to policy development, having chaired the National Engineering Committee that authored Ghana’s first manual for right-of-way management.”
He also contributed to landmark developments such as the Accra Mall, Airport City, and the Ambassadorial Enclave, the statement, noted.
GNA