Audio By Carbonatix
The Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing the Pokuase-Amasaman road, describing it as a priority project under the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, July 10, Mr Suhuyini noted that the ministry is fully aware of the road’s poor condition and is actively working with the contractor to ensure improvements are made, despite minor delays.
Mr. Suhuyini revealed that the Minister for Roads and Highways has personally driven on the Pokuase-Amasaman stretch “unceremoniously a couple of times” to assess firsthand the complaints received from road users, particularly those shared on social media.
“It is one of the priority roads at the ministry, and we are also very concerned about the nature of the road,” he said. “The minister himself has driven on it unceremoniously a couple of times, just so that he can assess the concerns and complaints that he has been receiving—especially on social media—for himself.”
Read Also: Reliable funding key to avoiding debt in road projects – Alhassan Suhuyini
Following these personal inspections, the ministry held several meetings with the contractor on site. According to Mr Suhuyini, they urged the contractor to take immediate action to improve the road’s condition for motorists in the interim.
“Based on that, we had a couple of meetings with the contractor on site, and on those occasions, we urged the contractor to at least make the deployable areas a bit more motorable for the motoring public,” he said.
He explained that under standard contractual obligations, contractors are required to maintain sections of the road that are still in active use while construction is ongoing.
“As part of every contract, it is the responsibility of the contractor on site to maintain sections of the road that are still being used by motorists—to a point where the frustration that the motorists will face will be reduced to a bearable level.”
Although the government currently owes the contractor some payments, Mr Suhuyini emphasised that the amount is not significant and has not hindered progress.
“Even though we owe the contractor not much, though—we have, over the period, urged them to maintain those roads,” he clarified.
The Deputy Minister also addressed concerns that political uncertainties at the beginning of the year may have discouraged some contractors from continuing work.
However, he said engagements with stakeholders have helped restore confidence.
“You know, the uncertainty with a change in government is what many contractors were feeling in the beginning of this year,” he said. “But based on our engagement with many of them, they have come to understand the direction and focus of the minister, and they are beginning to respond.”
He confirmed that construction activities have resumed, and motorists have already begun to notice improvements.
“As of last Monday, we received reports that the contractor had started improving sections of that road, and a number of motorists have also testified to this.”
Mr Suhuyini added that the Concerned Drivers Union, who were present at a recent ministerial press conference, also confirmed the contractor’s return to site and the ongoing rehabilitation of deteriorated sections of the road.
“In fact, the day the minister was having the press conference, the Concerned Drivers Union was present with us and testified that the contractor had returned to site and was working to improve sections of the road that had deteriorated so badly over the period.”
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