The Minister of Roads and Highways has revealed that President Akufo-Addo was on the verge of weeping when he travelled on the Hamile road in the Upper West Region, sometime ago.

According to Kwesi Amoako-Attah, the Hamile road was in such a terrible state that travelling on it with the President was near impossibility.

But he said that President Akufo-Addo immediately directed him to, as a matter of urgency, ensure the road is constructed.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Sunday, May 23, 2021, on measures the government is taking to improve Ghana’s road network, the sector Minister indicated that the Hamile road has now been asphalted.

“After driving on the Hamile road, terrible road, when we sat down, President beckoned me. He said, Minister, did you see the road we travelled on, the towns, and the conditions of the people? The President said, when I was in my car, I felt like weeping when we were driving on that road.”

“This is the President of the Republic. He said that is why anywhere we go, I don’t want to go with a helicopter. I want to experience and I want to drive on the roads. The President of the Republic said I felt like weeping. He then directed me to work on the road. Today, my engineers are here, that road to Hamile is done and brought to a bituminous level” he said.

Mr Amoako-Attah indicated that the government is seriously constructing and fixing deplorable roads across the country.

He further explained that Ghana’s roads would not have been in their current state if previous governments had tackled the road sector in a serious and robust manner like the way President Akufo-Addo’s administration is doing.

The Roads and Highways Minister said that President Akufo-Addo’s second term is projecting to complete 6,000 kilometers out of 11,000 kilometers of roads.

Mr Amoako-Atta stated that the 6,000 kilometres of roads to be completed falls under critical, cocoa, town roads and asphalt overlays, and the Sinohydro Master Project Support Facility.

On the critical roads programme, the Minister said part of the roads to be completed are; Navrongo to Naga stretch the Wa to Bulenga to Yaala road, Salaga to Ekumdipe to Kpandai road which is 60% complete, upgrading of Yagaba to Mankarigu road as well as the upgrading of Daboya to Mankarigu road among hosts of road projects

Mr Amoako-Attah said that government has never and cannot promise to fix all of Ghana’s roads within a four-year period.

He, however, indicated that government will remain focused on delivering on its mandate and will not be intimidated.