President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday, June 10, 2018, ended his 3-day tour of the Western Region with an announcement of massive road projects for the region this year.
According to President Akufo-Addo, despite the mantra of “unprecedented infrastructural development” touted by the Mahama government in the run-up to the 2016 elections, roads have been an important concern for the Chiefs and people of every region he has visited.
President Akufo-Addo, in the course of his Western Regional tour, cut the sod for the construction of the 24.3-kilometre Kojina-Chirano-Akoti road in Bibiani; the 25-kilometre Asankragwa-Fordjuorkrom road in Breman; and the 16-kilometre Kejibir-Mpohor road.
With the 71-kilometre Elubo-Enchi road, which began in 2011, President Akufo-Addo told a gathering of Chiefs from Nzema East, Ellembelle, Jomoro, Ahanta West, Kwesimintsim, and Effia, that government has secured funds to complete the road.
“The 71 kilometre stretch of road from Elubo to Enchi will be financed by the Sinohydro financing facility – a facility which has been negotiated by my government. This will ensure that this road is constructed once and for all,” he noted, to rapturous applause from the Chiefs.
The President also indicated that the Sinohydro Facility would be used to construct an interchange at the PTC Roundabout in Takoradi.
“At a meeting on Tuesday, 5th June 2018, Cabinet took the decision that all Sekondi-Takoradi town roads are going to be tarred, and it will begin this year. When I say Sekondi-Takoradi town roads, I am referring to all the constituencies in Sekondi Takoradi, including Essikado,” he added.
Other roads to be constructed with the Sinohydro facility include the Benchemaa -Nkwanta-Asuontaa-Oseikojokrom road; Ewiase-Bosomoise road; Wiawso-Amfie-Aboboyaa road; Asafo-Acheachen road; Datano-Ahokwaa-Suhenso road; Asawinso-Kojina-Essakrom road; Kessekrom – Adiembra road; and Penakrom-Futa road.
On the construction of the 27 kilometres Sanko to Cape Three Points Road, a request made by the Omanhene of Dixcove, Obrempong Hima Dekyi IV, the President said engineering studies had been completed by the Ghana Highways Authority, and the procurement processes for the road will be completed soon.
Fertiliser Plant, New GNPC HQ
In fulfilment of a campaign promise in 2016 for the establishment of a fertilizer plant in Jomoro, President Akufo-Addo told the Chiefs that “at long last, we have now been able to complete the negotiations with the Moroccan Government.”
He continued, “The Moroccan company, OCTP, which is the largest fertilizer producing company in Africa, has been in Ghana on three separate occasions, and very soon we will announce plans for the construction of the fertilizer plant in Jomoro.”
On the manifesto pledge to site the headquarters of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) in Takoradi, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Board of GNPC had made the decision that the Operational Headquarters of GNPC should be in Takoradi.
Touching on the financing of projects under the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, President Akufo-Addo revealed that the EXIM Bank is supporting enterprises that are going to have an export content.
“Soon, we are going to get the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Venture Capital Fund to pull together to be able to support the 1D-1F project. This will ensure that financing, which is a major problem, will be solved. 1-District-1-Factory is going to have a major impact on the development of our country, and we are determined to do it,” he added.
Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo inspected ongoing works on the construction of a sea defence wall in Dixcove, and urged the contractors to complete the project on schedule.
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Source: citinewsroom.com/Ghana
