A vital roadway connecting Accra to Kumasi and other regions of Ghana, the Ofankor-Nsawam Highway, has deteriorated due to protracted construction delays, making driving a nightmare for drivers.
Since its construction in September 2022, the highway has been beset with impassable parts and dust, making it extremely difficult for commuters to travel.
Heavy rains on Monday night caused the situation to worsen, trapping cars in deep mud and submerging portions of the route.
The hardest-hit area has been the Sapeiman to Amasaman stretch, where the rains have caused severe traffic congestion.
Similar to this, there is dust on the Pobiman to Pokuase portion, which makes it harder for cars and locals to see and breathe.
Road users, many of whom battle every day to traverse the degrading terrain, are even more irritated by the contractor’s absence from the site.
The $350 million highway project was supposed to be finished in 24 months, but because of more than 80 unresolved court issues, work has halted.
Property owners contest demolitions or demand compensation in many of these court cases, which seriously slows the project’s completion.
These legal disputes have been identified by the Ministry of Roads and Highways as a significant barrier impeding the prompt continuation of construction.
Drivers who are upset with the highway’s rapid deterioration are pleading with the government to resolve legal challenges quickly and guarantee that full-scale construction starts right away.
It is anticipated that the Ofankor-Nsawam Highway’s reconstruction and expansion will reduce traffic, increase trade and business, and enhance road safety.
However, travelers will have to put up with daily traffic jams, car damage, and deteriorating travel conditions on one of Ghana’s busiest highways until the legal disputes are settled and work starts up again.
Source: newsthemegh.com