State Member inspect Big Push Road Works; call for speed and deeper Community Engagement

The Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, and the Volta Region’s representative on the Council of State, Mr Gabriel Kwamega Atokple Tanko, have inspected ongoing works on selected Big Push road projects in the region, with a call on contractors to accelerate construction and strengthen engagement with communities along the corridors.

The inspection tour, which covered sections of the Hohoe stretch and portions of the Asikuma–Have corridor, was undertaken to assess progress of work and respond to concerns raised by residents and traditional leaders. The team included the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, traditional authorities led by Togbuiga Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of Gbi Taditional Area and representatives of the Regional House of Chiefs, religious leaders, and engineers from First Sky, the construction firm executing the projects.

Briefing the delegation on the Hohoe route, Regional Maintenance Manager, Mr Samuel Yaw Egyir, said the road which was previously under Cocoa Board funding, had now been fully absorbed into the Big Push programme. Works outstanding on the corridor include the construction of concrete U-drains, culverts, sub-base preparation, base paving and asphalt overlay. He indicated that the contractor’s schedule shows the project is ahead of time, with completion expected before the 24-month deadline.

Hon. Gunu commended the progress but urged contractors to uphold quality while delivering on time. He encouraged them to employ local artisans and young engineers, noting that job creation remains integral to President John Dramani Mahama’s Big Push initiative.

The Minister also underscored the importance of regular communication with communities. “Sometimes you need to do community engagement for people to understand the timelines and the work plan,” he said. “When the community is informed, they can appreciate the progress and follow the project with confidence.”

He further reminded engineers and consultants to enforce durable construction standards, stressing that the region does not want road sections deteriorating soon after completion. He advised contractors to hold frequent site meetings with chiefs and local authorities, adding that minutes from such engagements should guide decision-making and help resolve challenges early.

Engineers from First Sky disclosed plans to mill off portions of the existing road surface and replace them with fresh binder and wearing courses. They noted that final directions from supervising engineers would shape the next phase of work.

Addressing the team, Togbuiga Gabusu VII, expressed concern over dust levels along the Hohoe stretch, which he said had sparked persistent complaints from residents and business owners. He appealed to the contractors to intensify watering and smoothing operations to reduce the impact on communities. He also urged the project team to ensure visible improvements before the Christmas season, saying poor road conditions discouraged families from returning home for the holidays.

The delegation also inspected works on the Asikuma–Have road, where engineers outlined plans for a major 67-kilometre regional corridor linking Asutsuare Junction through Volivu to Darfur and onward to Asikuma Junction. The corridor, which will include a flyover, is expected to provide the shortest route between Ghana’s ports and the Burkina Faso corridor and improve access to Ho and surrounding districts.

The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure under the Big Push initiative and assured residents that concerns raised during the tour would be addressed to facilitate smooth execution of the projects.