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The Roads and Highways Ministry has clarified that unpaved roads are part of the 10,875 kilometres of roads constructed by President Akufo-Addo as announced on Wednesday, March 30.
The president, while delivering the 2022 State of the Nation’s Address, said that “some ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five (10,875) kilometres of new roads have been constructed in these five (5) years.”
“Let me mention that yesterday, it was my honour and great pleasure to have commissioned the Tamale Interchange, the first such interchange in the northern sector of our country, which the people of Tamale celebrated. I considered it to be a most satisfying birthday present. We intend to continue with the building of roads round the country to accelerate the opening up of our country.”
The claim by the president has sparked a public debate with members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) casting doubt and calling on government to prove the claim.
According to the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Transport Committee, Kwame Agbodza, the said 10,875 kilometres is at best a ‘conjured’ figure.
Similarly, an NDC communications officer, Godwin Ako Gunn, said on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofo Morning Show that he can’t see the supposed roads built by the president.
But a statement from the Ministry of Roads and Highways has indicated that “the data on completed works have subsequently been updated to 10,875km as at end of February, 2022.”
The statement added that “over the past 5years, a lot of investment had gone into both the paved and unpaved roads to improve the riding quality on our roads. The 10,875 kilometres of roads constructed have been on both paved and unpaved roads.”
A further breakdown said the road network is composed of both paved and unpaved
roads. However, it is significant to note that the majority of roads (over 70%) in the road network are unpaved. .
“Technically, any activity on the road amounts to “construction” hence, His Excellency the President’s statement that “so far, more roads have been built, improved and upgraded than at any other equivalent period under any government in the history of Ghana’,” the ministry explained.
It added that minor rehabilitation and upgrading, partial reconstruction and asphalt overlays are the key activities on unpaved roads.
While noting that the total network size was 78,402km in 2017, the Ministry of Roads stated that as at the end of 2021, the projected network size had increased to 94,203km and this length is currently undergoing validation.
