President Mills cuts sod for €100m Awoshie-Pokuase road

President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday cut the sod in Accra for work to commence on the €100 million Awoshie-Pokuase Road and the Urban Development Project.

The three-year project is being sponsored by the African Development Bank with €63 million, while France through the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) is giving out €30 million, and the Government of Ghana is making €7 million available to compensate people who would be affected by the project.

The President performed the ceremony at the Ablekuma Taxi Rank within the Weija Constituency in Accra and charged the contractor to begin work immediately, ensure quality work and finish the project on time.

“I’m happy to be present at this ceremony. I have memories of the campaign time when you asked me, ‘What can you do to improve our roads for us?’ Then I knew the answer was not mine but God’s. I’m happy to be here to cut the sod.

“By this project, we are not doing you a favour; governance is all about using the resources to improve the lives of the people”, President Mills said, adding, “We are interested in raising the standard of living of the people.”

President Mills assured the people that those who would be affected would be compensated and entreated the chiefs, elders and people in the area to lend their support for the successful accomplishment of the project.

The project, being implemented by the Department of Urban Roads of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, entails the construction of a three lane dual carriage road from Awoshie to Odogornno, with service roads, a two way lane dual carriageway with service roads on both sides, which would continue from Ablekuma to the Nsawam Road, with a reservation in the median along the entire stretch of road.

The Community Development Component of the project would comprise the construction of secondary schools, construction of two markets and two transport terminals, rehabilitation  and construction of schools and health facilities and the construction of a water supply system and storm drains.

The project is redemption of a campaign pledge to the people of Ablekuma and catchment areas by President Mills in the run up to the 2008 elections.

When completed, the project would reduce travel time, with fuel saving, reduction in pollution and improvement in general health and reduction in flooding in some parts of the project catchment area.

Source: GNA