Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Emmanuel Tornyi
Published on 2024-02-19 13:00:48
The Ghanaian government has recently committed to a substantial investment in road infrastructure to provide citizens with safer and more efficient transportation. Potholes, which have been a longstanding concern for motorists in the country, cause discomfort, vehicle damage, and pose safety hazards. In response to this challenge, the government has allocated GH¢150 million to repair and patch road surfaces, aiming to improve the overall quality of the country’s road network.
This initiative comes at a crucial time when citizens have been advocating for swift action to address the deteriorating state of roads. The funds will be strategically deployed to identified pothole-prone areas, with a focus on major highways, urban roads, and key transportation routes. According to an official statement from the Ministry, the Department of Urban Roads will initiate routine pothole patching activities on major roads, taking advantage of the favorable dry season conditions.
However, not everyone is convinced that the allocated funds will be sufficient to address the country’s road infrastructure needs. Emmanuel A. Cherry, the Chief Executive Officer of GhCCI, expressed skepticism about the adequacy of the GH¢150 million allocation. In an interview on Accra-based Starr FM, he stated that the Ministry of Roads would need more than the allocated amount to fix the roads across the country. Cherry estimated that across the country, not less than GH¢2 billion would be needed due to the deteriorated state of the roads, which would require significant funding for cutting and fixing. He emphasized that the entire country would require more than GH¢150 million, even though it is a good start.
Cherry also questioned whether the allocated funds would be released quarterly, as he indicated that if the GH¢150 million was intended to take care of the entire country, it would be woefully inadequate. He emphasized the need for more substantial funding to address the country’s infrastructure needs, suggesting that the current allocation may not be sufficient to have a meaningful impact on the overall state of road infrastructure.
In conclusion, the Ghanaian government has taken a positive step in committing a significant investment to repair and patch road surfaces to address the challenge of potholes. However, skepticism remains about whether the allocated funds will be enough to tackle the country’s road infrastructure needs comprehensively. The concerns raised by the Chief Executive Officer of GhCCI highlight the importance of considering a more substantial allocation of funds to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the country’s road network.
Read Original article on Pulse News
