Work on the Ofankor-Nsawam Dual Carriage Road project, which initially missed its July 20, 2024, completion date, is set to miss the revised May 21, 2025, deadline.

The project is now expected to be delayed by an additional 15 months due to unresolved compensation issues involving persons affected by the project, and the relocation of utility lines belonging to agencies such as the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Limited.

According to the latest progress report, the project is 74 per cent complete and cannot meet the revised May 2025 target.

The Chief Resident Engineer, Kwabena Bempong, disclosed that out of 328 structures along the project’s right of way, only 76 owners qualified for compensation, of which 40 have received payments.

He explained that attempts to expedite work stalled after some affected individuals took legal action. Since November last year, the contractor has faced significant financial challenges due to unpaid compensation, preventing further progress.

A section of the ongoing Pokuase-Nsawam Highway project

Parliamentary visit

These revelations emerged during a working visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport to the project site on Friday. The committee was led by its Chairman and MP for Wassa East, Isaac Adjei Mensah, and the Ranking Member, Kennedy Osei Nyarko.

The delegation also inspected the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange and the Winneba-Kasoa Road Expansion projects to assess progress and challenges.

Obetsebi Interchange

At the €87-million Obetsebi Interchange, progress on outstanding works has slowed due to government delays in settling interim payment certificates (IPCs). Resident Engineer of Fas Consult, Owusu Sekyere Antwi, stated that although phase two of the project is over 96 per cent complete, an outstanding IPC of about €20 million remains unpaid, hampering timely completion.

In January, Mr. Antwi had projected completion by March 2025, citing final touches such as pavement block laying, asphalt surfacing, road markings, and installation of traffic lights.

Kasoa-Winneba Road Project

At the Kasoa-Winneba site, work is reportedly progressing steadily. The Resident Engineer from ABP Consult revealed that Lot A, which includes interchanges at Sapato, Buduburam, Bereku, Akoti, and two footbridges, is 47 per cent complete. The project is expected to be handed over by March 2027.

MPs call for action

Mr. Adjei Mensah urged swift resolution of financial bottlenecks, especially at the Obetsebi site, and called on contractors to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and Housing and the GARID project to complete the drainage infrastructure.

He also called for cooperation among stakeholders to resolve compensation issues delaying the Ofankor-Nsawam and other road projects.

Ranking Member Kennedy Osei Nyarko expressed concern about the frequent postponements of the Ofankor-Nsawam dualisation.

“This is a 33.4-kilometre project that was to be completed in 24 months, but it’s already delayed by almost a year. If delays persist, the cost to the government and taxpayers could nearly double,” he warned.

He called for urgent action to address encroachments and compensation challenges to get the project back on track.