Residents of Jomoro in the Western Region have expressed relief and renewed hope following the official handover of the Samenye Barrier-Half Assini-Newtown road to a contractor and the mobilisation of equipment to site for construction to begin.

The road, which serves as a major corridor linking Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire through the Jomoro Municipality, has for years been in a deplorable condition, contributing to avoidable accidents and loss of lives.

Engineers from the Ghana Highway Authority on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, handed over the site to Kingspok Company Limited. Following the handover, the contractor mobilised equipment to the site, signalling the commencement of construction.

The development comes five years after a sod-cutting ceremony for the same road was performed in 2020 by then Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. However, the project stalled, with no construction work undertaken.

Official sod-cutting expected

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially cut the sod for the project later this year.

In the meantime, Kingspok Company Limited will begin work on the road while awaiting the President's official sod-cutting ceremony.

Residents commend President, MP

Speaking to GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent, Daniel Kaku, some residents commended President John Dramani Mahama for responding to their concerns and prioritising the road project.

They also thanked the Member of Parliament for the Jomoro Constituency, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, for her persistent lobbying to secure government attention for the project.

"We have suffered for too long on this road. Many people have died. Today we are happy that the government has finally listened to us," one resident said.

Residents appeal for timely funding

The residents, however, appealed to the government to demonstrate its financial commitment by ensuring the timely release of funds to the contractor to guarantee the completion of the project before 2028.

They cautioned against any delays that could lead to the project being abandoned, stressing that adequate funding would be critical to its successful completion.

"This time we don't want just another sod-cutting ceremony. We want to see the road completed. Government should pay Kingspok Company Limited on time so the work can continue smoothly," another resident said.

Strategic importance of the road

The Samenye Barrier–Half Assini–Newtown road is considered critical to trade, tourism and cross-border movement between Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Stakeholders say the completion of the project will boost economic activity in the Jomoro Municipality, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of people and goods between the two neighbouring countries.

The mobilisation of equipment to the site by Kingspok Company Limited marks the start of construction, raising hopes of ending years of frustration for residents and commuters.