The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, speaking at the Lighthouse Chapel's Good Friday service in 2017 hinted that the government is taking steps to implement the proposal of charismatic bishops to build concrete instead of asphalt roads across the country.
ADVERTISEMENT
Concrete for road construction, when will the project start nationwide? - Kojo asks
The NPP government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promised to use concrete for road construction nationwide instead of asphalt.
Concrete roads
Recommended articles
According to him, the Ministry Roads and Transport were undertaking the comparative analysis and costing of the proposal.
Bawumia said: "most of the other asphalt roads, after a year of rainfall, are gone."
"We will consider doing this and it will be transformational because as for laying concrete, we can all do it in Ghana. You don’t need to get anybody to come and lay concrete for you. Any mason from any village can come and lay the concrete and go on," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
He explained that, following the costing, the government realized that a kilometre of a concrete road will cost $3.8 million and that of asphalt will cost $2.8 million.
The concrete road will last for 40 years whilst the asphalt will last for only 10 years, he added.
Bawumia said the choice of a concrete road could not have come at a better time, especially in Tema, as it was home to major industries in the country, so it was important to provide durable roads to link the industries to the port as well as other parts of the country.
In February 2020, the Ministry of Roads and Highways announced a policy to start using concrete in constructing roads in the country.
Anthony Karbo, the former Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways said the feasibility study on the lifespan of roads in Ghana has shown that those made with concrete last longer than bitumen hence the adoption of the policy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nana Addo cuts sod for road
Pulse Ghana
He said the government will encourage contractors to use concrete for the construction of roads in the country and explained that two road projects under construction will be used as a pilot project for the decision to use concrete for road constructions.
He stated that "....as we speak currently we have two major pilot concrete roads ongoing and this year has also been declared the year of roads.
"And that is why we have come up through the support and through the initiative of the Vice President. Concrete roads are going to be part of road mix of the Ministry of the Roads and Highways."
Road network has been one of the major problems in the country, most communities are not well connected to the urban centres especially the farming ones. This has on many occasions resulted in demonstrations by some citizens.
ADVERTISEMENT
The short lifespan of the country's roads is also another major problem as some roads constructed do not last long due to either shoddy work by the contractors or the use of inferior materials. Thankfully, the government has discovered that building concrete roads will be a a better option.
Therefore, Kojo wants to know when will the government by its promise start construction of our roads with concrete in the country.
Pulse Editor's Opinion is the opinion of an editor of Pulse. It does not represent the opinion of the organization Pulse.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Stay in your parents' house while you do your NSS - Sammy Gyamfi advises graduates
Joseph Addo files nomination to contest as NPP Parliamentary aspirant for La Dadekotopon
Dumsor: ECG board members reject PURC GH¢5.8m fine
Woman who claims to have been taken to another world by dwarfs shares experience
Organised Labour threatens to strike May 2 over Tier-2 pension arrears
Nana Addo assures he will prioritize the welfare of cocoa farmers
Truck driver arrested for allegedly causing train accident on Tema-Mpakadan railway line
Kia driver who caused accident involving Ghana’s new train reports himself to Police
