THE ACHIMOTA OFANKOR ROAD DESIGN.

HOW EXPENSSIVE IS IT?

In the application of our scarce National resources, be it Loan or Aid, we must think about what our National priorities are.

• The fact that other African Countries have flyovers does not mean Ghana has to have flyovers where they are not needed, but just that it will make the city beautiful.

• The fact that other African Countries have Presidential Palaces does not mean that Ghana has to have a Presidential Palace.

• The fact that other African Countries have Presidential Jets does not mean that Ghana has to have a Presidential Jet.

• The fact that other African Countries pay Parliamentarians and other Government officials lavishly, do not mean Ghana has to follow them and exploit our people.

In making such decisions, we need to look at priorities, and as far as I am concerned, National priorities, must include the following.

1. Health care facilities, like health post in every village in Ghana.

2. Good school structures and learning materials.

3. Good drinking water throughout the Country.

4. Good and accessible roads in every part of the Country.

5. Efficient and reasonable cost of Utilities.

6. Healthy environment. Some villages do not even have places of convenience.

7. Create Jobs and pay reasonable wages to the working people of Ghana. These are referred to, as human survival needs and for all intent and purposes, people must have them first before other ostentatious development considerations.

Ghana and other African leaders must learn to introduce and apply policies that work in the developed economies, instead of the colonial nonsense of salary and privileges which is nothing but exploiting our own people just as the white colonialists did to the Continent.

In my opinion, the Achimota - Ofankor road can only be described as willfully designed to cause financial loss to the state. The number of flyovers on the just about 5killometer stretch road is unnecessary and unjustifiable. I guess it was designed to satisfy the Ministry of modernization of the capital city and create a false impression of National development. The depth of concrete trench mid way the road gives an impression that there is going to be a Kuffour tunnel in Accra, just like the Holland and Lincoln tunnels that separate New York and New Jersey.

In all sincerity, a simple three lane dual carriage using the last lanes for exits and U turns should have been enough to ease out the normal traffic congestions on that piece of road. The Flyovers could have waited on the drawing board for future development initiative when the economy of Ghana improved. Road construction all over in the developed world has been done in phases. There are always some amounts of improvements being made even on some of their best roads.

It is my conviction that 50% of the contract sum on the Ofankor road could well be enough to asphalt all the link and minor roads in the Capital City. That should have been the best and wisest executive and legislative decision that could rather open up most of the suburbs to the major roads that would ease traffic congestions. The minor roads in the capital City are in a very deplorable state and make it look like a City without Leadership.

Ghana is proud to have the Gateway to AFRICA inscribed at the Kotoka International Airport. The question however is does Ghanaians believe that? Self Centeredness is the problem of our people and leaders and not until the Leadership change and dedicate themselves to the total development of Ghana, it will be very difficult to change the mind set of the ordinary people.

I believe Ghana can be the gateway to Africa BUT we are not there yet. What do you think?