Ghana@63: We should be ashamed over our poor roads - Amoako-Attah

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta, says Ghanaians must be ashamed that since Independence only 23% of 78000KM total roads in the Country are tarred.

According to the Minister, Ghana has not done enough in the road sector in the past 63 years leaving many Ghanaians to commute on dusty and deplorable roads.

“Most of our roads are in a deplorable state. Ghana has a total of 78000km as at January 2017 that President Akufo Addo became President, only 23% of our roads were tarred.

The rest of the 77% were untarred. Ghana is 63 years on Friday Since we gained Independence on 6th March 1957. At 60 years just 23% out of the 78000Km of the road were tarred the remaining 77% were dusty roads. Even the 23% tarred roads were not all in good shape,” he lamented in an interview with ‘Efa Wo Ho’, Morning show on Dadi 101.1 FM.

The Minister added that “this is sad. We have to bow down our heads in shame. When you travel outside the country, there are two things that make those countries beautiful-tidy environment and infrastructure. Their roads are good with beautiful interchanges. You can drive as long as 100KM on interchange alone. In Ghana, deplorable and dusty roads are killing us. Our homes are being polluted with dust”.

Amoako Atta explained that “any country that wants to develop and attract investors must first have good roads because 98% of transportation is by road. I’m painting this picture for Ghanaians to understand the enormity of the problem in the road sector inherited by President Akufo Addo which efforts are underway to fix it.”

The Minister of Roads and Highways added that President Akufo Addo is committed to bridging the huge deficit in the road sector by the end of his second tenure in office.

“Currently as I speak with you, road constructions are ongoing in the entire 16 regions at the same time. It is a total of 266 ongoing road projects. We are hopeful that, Ghanaians will renew the mandate of President Nana Akufo Addo to continue these projects, and by the end of his second term in office, Ghanaians will see marvelous improvement in the road sector. President has declared this year as” Year of Roads” as a sign of commitment.”