President Mahama Inspects Ofankor-Nsawam Road Construction Site

President John Dramani Mahama conducted an inspection tour of the Ofankor-Nsawam 33.4 km dual carriageway rehabilitation project on Wednesday, addressing funding concerns and securing completion commitments from contractors.

During the site visit, the President expressed satisfaction with current traffic conditions, noting that earlier congestion problems that prompted public complaints have been resolved. 

He commended the smooth flow of vehicles but warned contractors to maintain proper site management throughout the remaining construction period.

“I can see that drivers are happy now and I hope that from now until when you finish the project you maintain a smooth flow of traffic even as you’re working,” President Mahama stated during the inspection.

The presidential visit came amid concerns about cost overruns that have required the government to provide almost GH¢78 million in supplementary funding after the original project loan was exhausted. 

President Mahama used the inspection to question how the initial loan amount proved insufficient for project completion.

“I can understand that a loan was taken for this project and I don’t understand why the money is finished and the project is not over,” the President noted, questioning whether initial cost estimates were properly conducted.

During the tour, contractors committed to completing the project by the end of the second quarter of 2026, a timeline that President Mahama accepted, making it clear the government would hold them accountable to this deadline.

“So we’ll hold you to your word you say by end of second quarter next year, it should be finished,” he told the contractors after receiving their completion assurance.

The President announced during his visit that the road contract has been moved into the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme to ensure adequate funding for completion. 

This integration provides access to GH¢14 billion allocated for Big Push projects this year and another GH¢30 billion planned for next year.

He noted that the government had been particularly concerned about public complaints regarding traffic disruptions.

“This is an arterial road in the country because it connects the two biggest cities in Ghana and so any challenges with this contract affects a huge number of commuters because of the heavy traffic that passes through here,” he explained.

The President addressed quality concerns during his site visit, warning contractors about persistent issues with road construction materials in Ghana. 

He specifically called on the company [Maripoma Enterprise Limited] to uphold their reputation as one of the country’s established road construction firms.

“One of the major problems with road contractors in this country is the quality of material and so you build the road after a short while the road starts to deteriorate,” he said.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD