President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to honour the engineer regiments of the Ghana Armed Forces with the Order of the Companion of the Volta for their role in clearing the right-of-way for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.
The honour will be conferred at the next National Honours ceremony, which is expected to coincide with Ghana’s 70th anniversary of independence.
Speaking during the formal handover of the cleared right-of-way at Kwaso in the Ashanti Region on Monday, September 14, Mahama praised the military engineers for completing the assignment ahead of schedule.
The Ghana Armed Forces was given 20 weeks to clear the route but completed the 175.6-kilometre stretch in 19 weeks.
“I’m pleased to announce to the whole country Ghana that our Armed Forces have accomplished this mission one week ahead of schedule.”
Mahama said the engineers worked through difficult terrain, including virgin forests, rivers and streams, to complete the task.
“From Ablekuma in Greater Accra to Sewa in Ashanti region, within 19 weeks, 175.6 kilometers of road passing through virgin forests, crossing rivers and streams, our Ghana Armed Forces can today announce to all of us, as they say in military jargon, mission accomplished.”
He said the achievement deserved recognition from the state and formally announced the planned national honour.
“And indeed, I have given instructions that at the next National Honours, which we shall do to mark the 70th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Ghana, the engineers regiments of the Ghana Armed Forces shall receive an order of the Companion of the Volta.”
The President also expressed appreciation to the Armed Forces, particularly the engineer corps, for successfully delivering the assignment.
“And so I wish to express the appreciation of a grateful nation to our Ghana Armed Forces, especially the engineer corps for this great accomplishment.”
The clearance forms part of the preparatory work for the proposed 198.7-kilometre, six-lane Accra-Kumasi Expressway, a flagship project under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.
Following the completion of the assignment, Mahama has also directed the engineers to begin preparations for the clearance of the right-of-way for the proposed New Accra Orbital.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
