Anger Hits Kumasi Over Bad Roads

There is growing anger and grumblings among residents in and around Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region over the deplorable state of roads there.

The anger has earned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) some back lash which could affect the political goodwill it had hitherto enjoyed in the Region.

This observation came to bear when some of the people expressed their frustration and anger on Nhyira Fm recently.

The people were particularly peeved about the bad state of roads, which is rampant across Kumasi and the nearby areas.

Kumasi Votes

Kumasi residents, since the inception of the 1992 constitution, have always voted massively for the NPP during election.

During the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, for instance, the NPP won massive votes in the city.

Sudden Anger

But most of the residents of Kumasi have suddenly become bored about the government’s output in the region.

Some of the people that openly spoke on radio condemned the government for turning its back at Kumasi after winning power.

They said virtually all the contractors that are supposed to fix Kumasi roads have left the site and this is a nuisance to the people.

Meanwhile Citi Business reports that Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Friday 28 June conditionally approved a multi-year funding commitment of more than GH¢1.56 billion for the commencement of 14 road projects over the medium term.

The move to approve the projects will see reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrading of some selected road networks spanning 381.3 kilometres across Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Northern regions of Ghana.

It said according to a release issued by the Ministry, the approval of the funding commitment for the 14 projects is subject to section 33(1) of Ghana’s Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, (Act 921), which requires a yearly breakdown of each project as well as detailed information on all on-going road projects. PFM Act 921 also requires a complete assessment of all projects for efficiency and impacts.

“The multi-year commitment for the Ministry of Roads and Highways will be funded through the medium term budgetary allocation, covering the period between 2019 and 2023. And according to the Office of Minister for Finance, the concerned Ministry is expected to provide required information, as stipulated by the PFM act, by 15 July, 2019,” the statement said.

Aside from insisting on strict adherence to procurement processes as enshrined in the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act 914), the Ministry of Finance has also requested the Ministry of Roads and Highways to submit all projects’ contracts for inclusion in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.