By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Guli, (UW/R), Nov. 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has assured the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region that within the next two years, the region will witness giant revolutionary changes in its road network making history.
He observed that for decades, the northern part of the country had “endured the pain of neglect marked by broken promises, delayed projects, and missed opportunities.”
The President said the move to improve the road network in the region reaffirmed the government’s resolve to restore fairness, equity, and dignity to every part of the country.
President Mahama gave the assurance when he cut the sod for the commencement of the construction and rehabilitation of some major roads in the region under the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
The over 260 kilometres road project included the upgrading of the Wa-Bulenga-Yaala road; construction of the N18 Wa-Hain Road; upgrading of the Tumu-Hain-Lawra road; and upgrading of the Tumu-Hamile road.
Others were upgrading of the Tumu-Sissili-Navrongo, upgrading of the Tumu-Chuchuliga-Navrongo and Navrongo–Chuchuliga–Sandema roads respectively in the Upper East Region.
The project, which also included the dualisation of the Wa-SDD-UBIDS stretch to “decongest and beautify the regional capital,” was valued at about GH¢3.7 billion.
The initiative would open rural areas for investment, facilitate the movement of goods and services, and improve access to markets, healthcare, and education for hundreds of thousands of people.
The President indicated that the projects had been divided into several lots for different contractors to enhance efficiency and accountability.
President Mahama said the project was expected to directly benefit over 800,000 people, with an additional 1.5 million others expected to benefit indirectly through improved trade, education, and healthcare.
He also expressed the hope that the projects would generate over 2,000 direct jobs, including engineers, technicians, and machine operators, and create about 7,000 indirect jobs for suppliers, food vendors, and service providers.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways, charged the contractors working on the project to deliver quality and complete the works on time and within budget.
He said the government would introduce stricter measures to ensure the quality of the construction materials used on roads, particularly bitumen, to ensure the durability of the roads.
“There’s no regime in our country that ensured that the bitumen we use is up to standard, and I’m going to be working with the contractors to ensure that there is no more free will for every contractor to import anything in the name of bitumen themselves,” Mr Agbodza stated.
Naa Seidu Braima, the Paramount Chief of the Guli Traditional Area, commended President Mahama for the road intervention in the region.
He said it would help open the region for economic growth and improve access to essential services in other parts of the country and neighbouring Burkina Faso.
He said the road would not only ease the transportation of goods and people but attract investments, create jobs and enhance the overall quality of life of the people in the area.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo