According to him, the situation is making Accra unattractive.

In his 2018 State of the Nation Address delivered on the floor of parliament today [Thursday], Nana Akufo-Addo said the government is finding ways to improve upon the country’s transport system to address the problem.

[contextly_sidebar id=”dbIFXD7fEbqddNCsSJqgoFAhkztqNA0q”]“We have to improve upon the transportation system, so that no part of this country feels cut off or deemed too far from the center. That is the most effective way to stop the unsustainable rush to Accra. Traffic jams and overcrowding are making our capital unattractive. There are certain inconveniences that people adjust to, traffic jams are not one of them. We are spending too much time stuck in traffic, it is unproductive, it is not healthy and it is expensive. I fear that one of these days, one more car will join the madness on the roads in Accra and our city will be completely gridlocked,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo suggested that, the government will construct more roads to connect with different parts of the country to reduce the journey times between towns and cities.

“We have to build the roads to open up and link up the various parts of the country. Journey times between parts of the country have to be reduced,” he said.

Most major streets in Accra have gained notoriety for having the city’s worst traffic jam situations.

Some of these roads include the Madina to 37 road, Circle to Achimota road, Ofankor to Pokuase road, and the Tema motorway – Tetteh Quarshie roundabout.

Efforts by previous governments to address the problem seem not to have yielded results as the traffic situation has not improved.

Some analysts have suggested a total review of the country’s transportation system with a shift from the construction of new roads to the implementation of policies that will encourage boarding of commercial buses.

Meanwhile, the government says work it has started expansion work on the Tema-Motorway into a 6-lane motorway from the current 4 lanes.

It also says work on the Pokuase interchange is being undertaken to reduce traffic in that area.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Traffic jams, overcrowding making Accra unattractive – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the contractors working on the roads can only finish the work on time to bring relief to drivers and commuters who ply the stretches if the government makes prompt payment of the monies owed them.

Responding to questions from Journalists at a press soiree to address the slow pace of work on the roads in the region, Mr. Samini said the work on the routes can be fast-tracked once payment is made to the contractors.

“The issue is all about money. The contractors working on the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road – Queiroz Galvao – and the one working on the Navrongo-Sandema road – MYTURN Construction Limited – have slowed down the pace of works on the roads because they have not being paid,” he said.

“So we are hoping that monies will be released to them and they will go back to the site. But if money is not released to the contractors, they will have to manage the project, thus the slow pace of work on the roads”.

Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari admitted that the delay in paying contractors is affecting the progress of work on the roads but insisted that the government was working assiduously to settle the arrears soon.

He accused the previous government of not managing the project efficiently leaving the current administration to deal with the fallout of their actions.

“The Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakom road awarded by the previous NDC government was neither put on the Road Fund nor Government of Ghana (GoG) budget but on a different source, which the NPP government is paying dearly for it,” he said

“But as a government, we are committed to completing the roads. The President, Nana Akufo Add has tasked the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta to make some payments to Queiroz Galvao to expedite works and to complete the construction of the road on time.”

However, the Former Minister for Roads and Highways Inusah Fuseini told Citi News, that the government’s inability to pay contractors can be attributed to the slashing of statutory funds.

He could not understand why the government was struggling to pay the contractor on time when the project was put on the road fund by the previous administration.

“The cost of the Bolga-Bawku road construction awarded to Queiroz Galvao is about GHC600m and was put on the road fund which yielded between GHC100m and GHC120m monthly and we paid GHC100m to the contractor before exiting office,” he said.

“However, the slow pace of works on the road can only be attributed to the cut on statutory funds making it difficult to service the contractor.”

Mr. Rockson also said the government was working on reviving the defunct Pwalugu tomato factory, the Zuarungu meat factory and the Bolgataga rice mill.

He tasked Municipal and District Assemblies to embark on regular clean-up exercises to ensure good sanitation in the region.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/E: Non-payment of contractors affecting road projects – Engineer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“The Ministry of Roads and Highways wishes to inform the General Public that it is in the process of compiling names of prospective companies who have the expertise to undertake works in respect of the following activities: Road line marketing, construction of pedestrian guard rails, construction of crush barriers, maintenance of green areas, pot-hole patching and vegetation control,” the Ministry stated.

[contextly_sidebar id=”b5miHeUVUP1r9cc12dvjJ5Kuxl8urzmx”]Interested companies, according to the Ministry, are to capture their details in a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry before September 30, 2017.

The Ministry said the letter must be attached with (where applicable) “equipment holding, key personnel, company’s certificate of incorporation, [and] operational location (Region).”

Bad roads in Ghana

This comes on the back of several protests staged by some Ghanaians in different parts of the country over the deplorable nature of their roads.

Mahama gov’t left GHc11.6bn debt at Roads Ministry

Deputy Minister of Roads, Anthony Karbo, had earlier disclosed that government’s inability to fully embark on road projects is as a result of the huge debt left behind by the Mahama administration.

According to him, the previous administration left close to GH¢ 11.6 billion debt at the Ministry.

“The debt overhang in the Ministry is huge; close to GH¢ 11.6 billion in commitments, all contracts put together, and that is big,” Karbo added.

He further indicated that, the Ministry only receives GH¢ 1.2 billion from the Road Fund every year, adding that due to the relatively low amount they receive annually, the Ministry is considering other sources of funding for road projects.

‘Road fund coffers empty’

A Deputy Minister of Roads, Kwabena Owusu Aduom, had also earlier stated that, the Ghana Road Fund is depleted such that it will take about 10 years to pay for already awarded contracts.

According to the Deputy Minister, the situation was worsened by the former government’s decision to award numerous road contracts in the last quarter of its administration.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Gov’t conducts roll call of road construction companies appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the 2015 global status report on road safety, the total number of road traffic deaths has plateaued at 1.25 million deaths per year with the highest road traffic fatality rates in low-income countries.

While admitting human factors like drink driving, fatigue and distraction are major risk factors, it emerged that the design of roads in most parts of the world contributes to high fatalities.

And pedestrians are the worst hit.

The workshop therefore exposed road designers, planners and engineers to simple but efficient designing tools that can help reduce fatalities on roads in the country.

They visited the Okponglo traffic light intersection which has been until recently a death trap, claiming lives mostly of students of the University of Ghana.  It emerged that the intersection could be made a lot more safer for pedestrians without necessarily constructing a footbridge as proposed by the former Mayor Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.

Listen to how Citi News’ Caleb Kudah captures the interactions of the experts in this report:

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Accra roads to become pedestrian friendly again [Report] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

CLUE, offers an infrastructure inspection service for civil infrastructure including bridges and highway using modern technology and software.

At a meeting with management of the Ghana Highways Authority, the Chief Operating Officer for CLUE, Inc, Kazuki Natsume said “the nature of the roads in Africa can be improved. I have lived in several African countries and Ghana is actually the first country I have proposed this project to. We want to collaborate with the Authority to enhance their daily formalities using drones for their survey and designing work and also inspection of infrastructure and road maintenance.”

Mr. Natsume added that, the technology will also provide software to effectively serve the needs of the Authority in terms of data collection.

“We are first looking at data management. We have noticed that the organization is using paper for data collection, but we will provide them with modern technology and services. We are not just going to fly drones, we will come up with software that will help in the design of roads and also detect the very little defect.”

Every year, the GHA embarks on a monitoring and evaluation program to look out for defects such as potholes and cracks among others on the roads in the country, using a manual system approximately over a 13, 360km walk throughout the country.

In response to the proposal, the Maintenance Manager for the GHA, Mr. Osae Boateng, lauded the project and said “it is a viable project, but we have specific needs so we will keep in talks to find out whether their technology will solve those needs. Our concern now is whether they will be able to take the particular data that we take because we use a manual system and walk on the road every year so this is new and we will have to consider a lot of factors before we accept it.”

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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmomline.com/Ghana

The post Highways Authority receives proposal to use drones for road inspections appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According them, the linking road from Leisure hotel to the main road, has not been the best since the road has developed some potholes two months after its construction.

They claimed that the visible pot holes were brought to bare after a recent heavy rain.

A Teacher at Nungua, who gave his name as Ewa, said “this road has been a rough road; but before the election 2016, the road was hurriedly constructed.

According to him, “the construction is such that,coal tar on it cannot last because it’s not thick. It has started developing pot holes and it’s not good enough.”

Other residents shared similar disappointment about the road to Citi News.

“They are about five or six of them on this side, they were all started at the same time and the compacting wasn’t properly done; you could see it. It’s almost two months that they came and did the road; but now if you reach the junction, it’s very bad”

Citi News earlier reported of residents expressing their displeasure at the commencement of the construction of the road; barely seven days to the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.

This is a common occurrence in Ghana, where some roads are hurriedly done in a very poor manner.

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By: Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nungua: Road develops pot holes 2-months after construction appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Residents complained about the poor nature of the road and vowed to make it make it an issue to consider on voting day.

Some motorists who ply the route also said they almost on daily basis maintain their cars, a situation which is affecting their sales.

But in a rather quick response to the Citi News’ report, construction firm, Engineers and Planners, has moved equipment to the site and has resumed work on the road after several months of stalled work.

As of the time Citi News visited the site Thursday afternoon, crush rocks were being leveled on the road with grader leveling it to make it motorable for vehicles.

Some drivers and residents who could not hide their joy seeing the contractor back on site, were full of praise for Citi News for airing their concerns.

“I am very happy to see the contractor back on site because the work here has stalled for several months and it is surprising to see them resume work today”

Another resident, Evans Dzovi, said “in fact, we are unable to sleep because our rooms have been filled with dust from the dusty road, so it is actually a relief to see the contractor back on site. We are actually going to vote based on the person who will address our needs because we are suffering”

“I want to thank Citi FM for carrying out such a wonderful report which has compelled the contractor to come back on site. We are very grateful and we pray the contractor will complete the project and not leave it half way”

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Work resumes on Klagon road after residents’ complaint appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Eyewitnesses say the accident occurred when the saloon car they were travelling in, collided with a Sunyani-bound tipper truck from the opposite direction.

The truck, with registration number, BA 730-12, was carrying quarry materials. The third occupant of the saloon car is receiving treatment at the Sunyani Government Hospital.

There is however no information yet on the driver of the Tipper Truck and his mate.

The deceased are an assistant Headmaster of the Wenchi Senior High School, Mr. Adu Damoah, and a circuit Supervisor, Atta Bise, who’s also a teacher in the Wenchi area.

The two were returning from a workshop organised by the Electoral Commission in the Nissan Sentra with registration number, GC 4887-09.

Brong-Ahafo Regional Commander of  the police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Superintendent David Asirifi, confirmed the incident to Citi News.
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By:Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie

The post Two EC Returning officers killed in gory accident appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.