After cutting the sod for the construction of 167km Tamale-Yendi-Tatale highway on Monday, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has, on Tuesday June 14, cut another sod for the commencement of work on another major highway in the northern part of the country – the Tamale-Savelugu-Walewale highway.
The project is being financed by the Indian Exim Bank and the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana H.E. Sugandh Rajaram was among dignitaries present at the ceremony in Walewale in the North East Region.
The reconstruction of the international highway, which connects the southern part of the country to major parts of the north, and Ghana’s northern West African neighbours, will start with the 83km Savelugu-Walewale stretch of the highway in phase one, before the dualisation of the stretch from Tamale to Savelugu, as well as the reconstruction of Walewale to Paga in Phase 3 of the project.
As part of phase one to construct the stretch from Savelugu, the Walewale-Nalerigu intersection of the road, will be upgraded separately into an interchange, and the section of the road within the Walewale township will be dualized with all the necessary safety measures.
Speaking at the well-attended sod-cutting ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the government’s plan to construct yet another major road in the north, after so many on-going projects in other parts of the country, underlines the Akufo-Addo government’s commitment to improving the road sector in the country to enhance road travels.
“After 30 years of the construction of the road, we are here to cut-sod for Government to undertake a major reconstruction and upgrade sections of the road,” Dr. Bawumia said of the highway.
“The objective of the project is to enhance intra-urban, regional and national trade, strengthen regional economic integration, as well as, reduce the cost of doing business in the country,” he added.
The Vice President highlighted major road construction works that have been completed and those that are on-going since the Akufo-Addo government assumed office in 2017, including the Eastern Corridor road.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, many of us here may have observed that Government is undertaking various road projects throughout the country, particularly in the North. This is necessary to enhance safety, boost trade, improve accessibility, reduce vehicle operating costs, amongst others.”
“Some of the completed and on-going works include the completion of asphalt overlay of 100 km of roads in Northern, North East and Savanah regions. The beneficiary towns include Nalerigu, Walewale, Gambaga, Damongo, Yendi and Tamale.”
“Other major road corridors are the Eastern Corridor, which links Tema, Asikuma, Hohoe, Bimbilla, Yendi, Gushegu, Gbintiri, Bunkprugu, Garu, Bawku and Polimakom and the Western Corridor, which links Elubo-Enchie, Goaso, Sunyani, Techiman, Bole, Wa, Lawra, Nandom and Hamile.
“I am happy to mention that various road projects are being undertaken on these corridors. For instance on the Eastern Corridor stretch, we have: the Tema-Akosombo stretch currently being dualised from Tema to Asutsuare and constructing two interchanges – one at the Ashaiman roundabout and Asutsuare.”
Other portons of the Eastern Corridor road the Vice President mentioned included the Asikuma-Junction and Have stretch, Have-Hohoe, Hohoe-Jasikan, Jasikan-Dodi-Pepesu which has been completed, Nkwanta-Oti-Damonko stretch, Kpassa-Oti-Damonko stretch and Damonko-Bimbilla-Yendi-Gushegu stretch, which is also ongoing,
The Vice President has been in the north on a working visit for the past five days commissioning projects, inspecting on-going ones and cutting sods for new projects, especially roads