TEMA, Ghana, 19th September: The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has welcomed the government’s decision to construct a new expressway linking Accra and Kumasi, describing the project as long overdue.
According to him, the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway has the potential to significantly boost economic activity and improve transportation between Ghana’s two largest cities.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Monday, September 14, handed over the cleared right of way for the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway to the government, marking the completion of a major preparatory phase of the project.
The handover followed the clearance of 175.6 kilometres of the project corridor by the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The exercise was completed in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the scheduled 20-week timeframe.
President John Dramani Mahama, who received the cleared corridor on behalf of the government, commended the Armed Forces for completing what he described as a critical assignment towards the realisation of the project.
The planned expressway is expected to be a six-lane highway connecting Accra and Kumasi and will follow a different alignment from the existing Accra-Kumasi highway.
The handover of the cleared right of way paves the way for the next stages of work on the proposed expressway, which the government has identified as a major transport corridor between Ghana’s two largest cities.
However, speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, September 19, Mr Koomson raised concerns about the potential impact of heavy-duty trucks on the road once completed.
He cautioned that allowing heavy trucks to use the expressway without appropriate measures could accelerate damage to the road and increase maintenance costs.
“If they allow trucks on the expressway, they will spoil it. Even if they will use it, they must be made to pay a heavy fee before using it,” he said.
Mr Koomson suggested that any fees charged to heavy-duty trucks should be channelled directly into the maintenance of the expressway to ensure its long-term sustainability.
He also proposed the allocation of a dedicated lane for heavy-duty trucks if they are permitted to use the new highway.
“It is a very good idea and it will help the country, but the heavy trucks shouldn’t be allowed on it. They should find a way of allocating a specific lane for the bigger trucks,” he said.
Mr Koomson reiterated that the construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a positive development for Ghana’s economy but stressed the need for proper regulations to protect the road from premature deterioration.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
