Hawkers asked to make way for Circle-Nsawam Road contractors

Accra, May 25, GNA - Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Transportation on Wednesday stressed the need for hawkers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Nsawam road to leave the area for construction works to be carried out effectively.

Inspecting road works at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Minister noted that hawkers continued to occupy new pavements and bus stops, hindering works.

Dr. Anane reminded the hawkers that they had been asked to leave the pavements by June to enable contractors to carry out marking and sign writing on the road as well erecting traffic lights.

Mobile phone dealers, car dealers and "Space to Space" operators are currently occupying pavements at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota dual carriage being constructed by Taysec Construction Limited. So far, over 45 billion cedis compensation had been paid to landlords whose houses were affected.

Briefing journalists, Mr Kwabena Bempong, Deputy Resident Engineer, said the 400 billion-cedi project was commenced in January 2003 and progress of work was 70 per cent.

He added that work was expected to be completed by December 31, this year.

Mr. Bempong said the contractors had stepped up work on the project, including construction of the Achimota Inter-change, Railway Bridge, Achimota School and Achimota link roads. Mr. Bempong explained that Achimota School road would be widened to a two-lane dual carriage. "A big transport terminal has been constructed at Abofo, near Achimota, to reduce congestion on the main Achimota road."

He said the bus terminal, which would be ready in four weeks time, would accommodate 200 vehicles. They are also in the process of constructing a storage terminal that would accommodate excess vehicles. Mr. Bempong said the transport terminal would have a clinic, electricity, and telephone facilities, among others.

On the Pantang Mamfe road, Mr Joseph Okyere, Consultant of Comptran Engineering, said the 30-kilometre road, which commenced on April 29, 2004, had been completed.

Mr. Okyere said construction of drainage was going on steadily, adding that the road marking would soon commence. He indicated that government in January this year proposed the construction of a two-lane carriage from Pantang to Peduase and this would soon commence.

China International Water and Electric Corporation is undertaking the reconstruction of Pantang-Mamfe road at a cost 171 billion cedis.