Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ing. Rosby Kome-Mensah has said that the Akufo-Addo-led administration undertook a total of 1,300km of asphalt overlays during its first term.

Mr. Kome-Mensah's comments come after Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta, indicated at a press briefing Sunday, May 23, that government intends to complete 3,000km of asphalt overlays by the end of 2024.

Providing further information on ongoing road projects during an interview on the Super Morning Show Monday, May 24, the Engineer intimated that the government has already completed 1,300km out of the figure stated by the Minister.

He said the overlays were undertaken "between January 2017 and December 2020."

Ing. Kome-Mensah also indicated that the government has constructed a total of 4,000km of road over the past four years. The projects include; roads in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions as well as northern parts of the country.

He was however, not specific on the exact number of new roads that have been completed within the five year period since the current administration assumed office.

That notwithstanding, he said works aimed at rehabilitating deplorable roads across the country, are ongoing.

He further stated that plans are underway towards the completion of some 20 road projects, including various interchanges expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Among the projects nearing completion is the Pokuase interchange, which he said will be completed by the end of July, 2021.

Others include, "the Obetsebi Phase 1 which is complete."

"Phase 2 is 5% complete and should be completed within the next 18-24 months. The Tamale Interchange is ongoing and about 68% complete. The PTC Interchange at Takoradi is expected to be completed within the time frame mentioned." Ing. Kome-Mensah revealed.

On funding, the Engineer stated that government has secured loans to partly fund the projects.

Meanwhile, the Sector Minister, during the press brief on Sunday said 81 critical roads of the total length of 2,167.2 kilometres were identified in all the 16 regions for rehabilitation at a cost of GHS 7.827billion.

He further indicated the total of 6,000 kilometres out of 11,000 kilometres of roads are to be completed at the end of 2021.

Addressing this issue, Ing. Kome-Mensah said the Minister miscommunicated the total kilometres of road to be completed this year.

The Engineer, who initially did not seem to have grasp of the figures, eventually admitted after host Winston Amoah pressed that the roads as indicated by the Minister, are to be completed within a four-year period and not by the end of 2021 as indicated.

“From what I have here, out of the 11,000 kilometres of roads that have been programmed, the critical needs form 2,157km and this is for the four-year period, not for 2021 alone,” he said.