Roads in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency have seen a major facelift.

JoyNews checks reveal, over 50 kilometres of asphalt overlay has been done in parts of East Legon, Roman Ridge and Dzorwulu.

The rehabilitation of the roads comes just months to the December polls.

In East Legon, roads around A&C mall, Efua Sutherland Street and Manhean loop have all been given an asphalt overlay.

Also, roads in Dzorwulu, Abelempke and Roman Ridge have also undergone repair works.

Member of Parliament for the area, Lydia Seyeram Alhassan has dismissed claims the move is only an attempt to advance her electoral fortunes during the December 7 polls.

According to her, the project forms part of the government’s 'Year of Roads' initiative.

She said: “The President said that this year was going to be 'Year of Roads', so it is our share of the 'Year of Roads' that we’re seeing across. I must say we want good quality roads that will last long. You don’t want to have any shoddy work, and by the grace of God these roads are roads that are going to last a long time for the constituency and the country as a whole.”

But this explanation has been rejected by the NDC.

NDC’s constituency chairman Bismark Ayitey argues the MP cannot take credit for the projects which were started under the Mahama administration.

According to him, the rehabilitation of the roads is only an attempt to garner more support for her side to win votes in the upcoming elections.

“Concerning this asphalt overlay, it has not started for the past three months. It was something that was ongoing before the NDC left power. You remember the NPP started this sometime back prior to the by-election. After by-election it was put on hold and they’ve started again, so it’s not something new,” he said.

He, however, queried why the MP had not directed the funds for the rehabilitation of the roads into constructing new roads in other areas of the constituency which are yet to see asphalt.

“We are in the most elite community and every government tries as much as possible to make sure the road network within the municipality is good. As you went round you saw areas within East Legon that are not motorable, that there are no asphalt.

“Why those areas are not touched but Bawaleshie that has received its fair share of asphalt last four years under John Dramani Mahama, why should you come and put another coal tar on it? But you go Mempeasem, you go to parts of East Legon you cannot send your cars there,” he lamented.

The MP Lydia Alhassan disagrees.

According to her, the developmental projects she’s undertaking are not driven by the upcoming elections but by her desire to serve her constituents.

“Dzorwulu was constructed after the elections. Dzorwulu was constructed last year. Parts of Abelemkpe was constructed last year. Even Mempeasem was constructed after I became the MP for the first time in the history of that part of the road, was constructed after I became the MP.

“So it is not for the by-election, the developmental projects that by the grace of his excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the minister of roads brought to the constituency. Though I am not that long in parliament but this is something I go to them for on a daily basis; I lobbied for the road construction in this constituency,” she explained.

The MP, however, admits there are still deplorable roads within the constituency but appealed to electorates there to remain calm as plans are underway to fix their roads.

“[In] Abelempke, there are still issues to do with the Lincoln road and all the other roads in Abelemkpe. I’m not saying here that we have constructed all the roads in the constituency, but we have over 50km road within the constituency. They are a whole lot I tell you.

“Even with what I am doing, I don’t sleep I receive calls on a daily basis that 'our road hasn’t been done', 'you haven’t fixed our roads' and I plead with them, my constituents, we cannot do everything within this year, kindly bear with us, we are working hard to ensure that the rest of the places that have not been constructed will be done. I promise you”

Meanwhile, residents including commercial drivers are excited about the sudden upgrade of the road networks.  They say business has improved as a result.