Takoradi: Some drivers, who regularly travel the Takoradi to Cape Coast highway, have called on the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to hasten repair works on several damaged sections of the road before the peak rainy season begins.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Western Regional office of the GHA, in cooperation with the Western Regional Coordinating Council, initiated sectional repair works last month to ease vehicular traffic for motorists. The repair efforts target areas including Nkroful Junction-Agric Junction to Kojokrom, as well as portions at Abosso and Beposo, which have developed deep potholes that hinder smooth vehicular movement.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the repair work remains incomplete. The drivers have consequently urged authorities to ensure the rehabilitation is finished promptly to avert further complications once the rainy season commences.
Mr. Kofi Mensah, a commercial driver, shared his views in an interview with the Ghana News Agency. He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing repairs but stressed the importance of expediting the process before the onset of the rainy season. ‘We are grateful for the pothole repair initiative, which allows us to drive safely and focus on other things. However, we are urging the contractors to expedite work and complete it before the rains start to avoid further delays,’ he stated.
Similarly, Nana Yaw, another commercial driver, highlighted the longstanding challenges posed by the damaged sections of the N1 highway, including congestion during peak hours and frequent vehicle breakdowns. He acknowledged the remedial efforts and appealed for quicker completion, noting, ‘We appreciate the remedial efforts which I think will bring some relief to us, but we appeal to the authorities to speed-up work, because very soon the rains will start and that may cause further delays.’
In response, Mr. Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, clarified that the current rehabilitation work serves as a temporary measure to alleviate drivers’ difficulties while the Western Regional Coordinating Council makes arrangements for a comprehensive upgrade of the road. ‘This repair is a short-term solution to provide relief to our drivers, while we await long-term fixes. With the government’s commitment to infrastructure improvement, we believe this road will receive a major attention for a permanent solution,’ he explained.