The Ellembelle District Assembly in the Western Region has secured some Gh125 million to reconstruct the Esiama-Asasetre stretch through Teleku Bokazo which happens to be the road leading to the birthplace of Ghana’s first president Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.
The road which has been a conundrum for past governments was earlier awarded for reconstruction in 2016 but work was halted due to lack of funds.
As a result, tourists visiting the birthplace of Kwame Nkruma were subjected to the bumpy dusty nature of the only road leading to the historic national monument.
But, speaking to the press at Atuabo, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh disclosed that his assembly managed to secure funding for the stretch from the Ghana National Gas Company operating in the Ellembelle District.
He said “the biggest problem has been funding and that is what has left the road at this stage. The contractor abandoned site since 2017 for lack of funding, so we wrote to Ghana Gas and they graciously accepted to provide the funding. So currently GNPC and Ghana Gas are working to provide funding for the road. And very soon I believe the president will come and cut the sod for work to commence immediately”.
He continued that “the whole project comes to about Gh125m, is a 28 kilometer road, but its going to be done in three phases; Lot 1 to 3. Lot one is 6.5km asphalt from Esiama to Teleku Bokazo. This is what will be started immediately…in all within 2 years all the lots should be completed”.
There has been previous talk of the road going to be constructed since the NPP took over the governance of Ghana, but stalled. However, reacting to how much premium residents of Nkroful and surrounding communities should put on this new assurances, Mr. Bonzoh stated that “Ghana Gas has given all the assurances together with GNPC. Not just the assurance but the commitments, so its something that is signed, sealed and delivered. We are only waiting for a contractor to be selected”.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas Dr. Ben Asante on Tuesday also added that the positive response to the request of the DCE was as a result of the company’s commitment at fixing some roads in areas it operate, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities.
In his view, “Ghana Gas is reponsible for oil enclave roads. We try to find resources together with our partner GNPC to be able to build infrastructure that will link communities in the Nzema area… and the Nkroful one is one of them. Its about 20km and we are providing funding for it”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Ohene Gyan
