President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the dualisation of the Takoradi-Cape Coast Highway project.

The project, expected to be completed within a 24-month period, would have many interchanges, bridges, foot bridges, pedestrian crossings, rest stops, and axle way stations, among others.

During the sod-cutting ceremony at Assorku Essaman in the Shama District of the Western Region, President Mahama stated that the 73.6-kilometer road, with three different lots for three contractors, was expected to open up the area, advance transportation, and ensure that Ghana's economy recovered.

The road construction, which falls under the 'Big Push' agenda of the government, would also reduce to about 50 per cent travel time from Takoradi to Accra.

The President described the Takoradi-Cape Coast dualisation project as a “legacy of collective efforts, shared responsibility to rebuild Ghana and a national renewal.”

He said the government would also announce stringent measures, particularly on axle load carriage, to ensure that the roads lasted.

“We cannot invest so much money in improving the roads only for transporters to overload their trucks and destroy the road,” the President said.

The government is investing two billion dollars each year over a five-year period under the 'Big Push Initiative', which would advance infrastructure in the areas of roads, health, agriculture business, among others.

President Mahama tasked the contractors to work within environmental guidelines, procure local skills, and fulfill the project delivery time.