In August 2018, the government of Ghana signed and awarded a construct to Sinohydro Corporation Limited to construct a 56.4KM stretch of the Eastern Corridor road from Jasikan to Dodo-Pepesu.

The project, which started on December 20, 2019, after sod cutting by the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia in November that year, is expected to end after thirty calendar months.

Funding is from Sinohydro Master Project Agreements (Construction of Priority Infrastructure Projects) with a project sum of $4,335,208.43 and Ghana Highway Authority as both the consultant and the implementing agency.

On September 9, President Akufo Addo visited the Oti region and as part of his tour inspected the 56.4kilometre Jasikan-Dodo-Pepesu road.

Currently, over twenty-eight percent of asphalt work has been done.

The road is the first to receive asphalt overlay in the entire Oti region and has drastically reduced travel time between Kadjebi and Jasikan and Kadjebi to Hohoe.

Residents, however, have bemoaned overspeeding by drivers as a challenge due to the good nature of the road.

They are, therefore, requesting for speed ramps to be installed as soon as possible to avert any road crushes.

“The way the cars are speeding, those of us who live along the road find it difficult to cross. If they can construct some speed rumps, it will help us,” one resident said.

Others believe since this is the first of its kind, motor riders and drivers need some education to prevent needless accidents.

Emmanuel Klu who is the resident engineer for Ghana Highways Authority bemoaned non-adherence to road signs by most drivers leading to needless accidents. He assured that the road furniture as requested by residents would be done in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the project manager for Sinohydro, Li Long has said they are likely to finish ahead of schedule. He also added that the contract sum is sufficient and would not request for extra amount except there is additional work to do.

“Yes, we can finish before the contract time, if we try, we can finish before the time.”

He, however, noted that “the challenge here is, we are taking our chippings from Shai Hills. It can delay the work somehow, but we are trying our best to solve it."

He is appealing for cooperation from residents in the Jasikan and Kadjebi areas.