The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Hon. Ernest Norgbey, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Freeman Tsekpo, have assured residents that major ongoing road and drainage upgrades will see full completion, with substantial progress promised before year-end.
The multi-phased project involves critical work spanning 55 kilometers of roads to ease long-standing traffic.
The project also involves extensive drainage works; proper drainage systems, such as gutters and culverts, are included as ancillary features in both municipal upgrades and highway dualization projects to prevent flooding and protect the roads from water damage.
Following the slow pace and unsatisfactory works done on the deplorable roads, residents have voiced growing frustration with the MP and MCE, citing unmet promises and abandoned development projects, as they remain keen on demanding more accountability and visible development from local leadership.
However, both leaders remain highly committed to resolving the municipality’s severe road infrastructure challenges, despite recent pushback from residents over delays.
Addressing the media and a section of stakeholders, including all five contractors assigned for these projects at the office of the MCE on Monday, Hon. Horgbey lashed out his frustration over the laggard work done by some of these contractors assigned by the Department of Urban Roads under the auspices of the Ghana Highways Authority.
According to him, most of these contractors were not up to the task and failed to do what was right for them.
“From the onset I was not happy with some of the contractors. I’ve been saying this for months: some of the contractors were not up to the task and were not doing what is right for them. I am not elated to see a site foreman instead of the contractor himself in a meeting with the MCE and MP. We the leaders have been bashed about these issues, and we must face the consequences. We also would not allow contractors to sleep on their jobs. Had it not been the MCE, I would have worked them out of the meeting,” he said.
All five contractors, namely Kabaaka Construction, Freeway Company Limited, Forgeline Company, Sel Sem Group, and Mmanab Construction, took turns to brief the MP, MCE, and other stakeholders on the progress of work done.
According to a report file by the municipal urban roads site engineer, Mr. Kumordo, with the exception of Mmanab Construction, which has made significant progress with 60% work done, the remaining contractors cited the recent heavy downpour and lack of working equipment as the major reason for the delay in the completion of some drainage system, road patching, and sealing works.
The contractors proactively made a promise and showed the MP and MCE respect by directly assuring them that action will commence immediately this week, adding that should there be no rains, the people of Ashaiman will see continuous progress on the roads.
The MCE, Hon. Tsekpo, called for calm and urged residents to support the assembly’s efforts as critical road rehabilitation works commenced in the municipality to see significant progress, adding that there would be continuous supervision of all the projects.
While briefing the stakeholders, Hon. Tsekpo emphasized that with all contractors reporting to various sites to commence work, residents are privy to question contractors should they fail to meet their obligations, adding that every resident should act as “advocates for good roads in Ashaiman.”
He reiterated the need for unity on the side of residents and demand accountability from contractors to keep them on their toes to ensure they deliver on their promises.
Hon. Tsekpo added that the constituency should take shape by the end of July, and through to the end of August, there should be massive improvements in Ashaiman.
“But before the end of the year, we should see loads of black changes in town, and all these contractors have work to be done on these roads. Let’s all use one common ground to ensure the progress of Ashaiman and do away with the criticisms,” he added.
Below are the names of construction firms and their respective areas.
- Kabaaka Construction (Afariwa to Newtown Junction)
- Forgeline Company (Night Market, Official Town and Starlight Road, Rocky and Middle East Roads)
- Sel Gem Group (Fitterline Roads, High Tension and Middle East Link Roads)
- Mmanab Construction (Kofi Nimo Road and Links, Tema International School Street).
- Freeway Company (Jericho Roads, Tulaku Road)
By: Linus Siaw Nartey
