Residents of the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region have raised concerns about the early defects on the 10.5 kilometres Sokode Gborgame-Ho dual carriage road. 

Sections of the road, which is under construction, have begun developing cracks and potholes, and floods during heavy rains.  

The Sokode-Gbogame-Ho dual carriage road project was awarded to China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group Corporation Limited in 2016 under the John Mahama administration.

The GH¢99.1 million Project would see the upgrading of the 10.5 kilometres road from a two-lane road to a two-way, four-lane road with a drain and walkway. 

Construction works on the stretch had progressed at a snail's pace. 

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, who lauded the initiative to construct the road explained that financial constraints had caused the delay in the project. 

He said one of the challenges he was confronted with after assuming office in 2017 was to mobilise funding for the contractor to resume work on the project, which had been abandoned at the time. 

“The only challenge I inherited was that the contractor started the job and as soon as I took over as Minister, they came to me that they have not been paid for mobilisation so the work stalled.

We had to arrange through the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Department of Urban Roads to get them paid some money and the work resumed. But works have been on and off as a result of financial constraints on the part of the contractor”, he said.

The project also entails some traffic management works, where roundabouts are being constructed at 3 major intersections, thus Sokode Gborgame, Catholic Secretariat and UHAS junctions. 

Traffic lights would be erected at the Ring Road Y junction in Lokoe and PWD Junction. 

The third avenue road at between SIC and Goil fueling station would be converted to a one-way, through the Residency Road, to join the Civic Center - K K House Road at Toviadzi, in the Ho township. 

About 75% of the work has been done on the project within the last six years. Binder course has been laid on 7.2 kilometres of the stretch, while U-drains and walkways have been constructed. 

A retaining wall is being constructed at Kilometre 2 to protect the road and prevent flooding in the residential area. 

However, some residents have expressed concerns about defects in the asphalted stretch.

The right lane which had developed cracks and potholes also floods during downpours. 

Ami Gideon who was not satisfied with the progress of work lamented the flooding situation of the stretch and appealed to the authorities to rectify it. 

“The road has several defects. It floods so heavily that your vehicle engine can go off when you enter the flood. Provisions have not been made for the running water to slope into the drains”, said Amos Dzivenu a resident of Sokode Lokoe.

Others also suggested the construction of pedestrian crossings and speed ramps in communities to ease the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of the residents. 

Hadzi Bright said “the contractor is working at a speedy pace as compared to the previous years. However, we have observed that they have not constructed pedestrian crossings.

"We have schools around and pupils use the road. A youth lost his life in an accident recently. So we want the contractor to consider a pedestrian crossing.” 

The Volta Regional Director of Urban Roads, Edward Annan, explained that it was good the defects had been detected this early which would enable the contractor to rectify them before handing over the road. 

“Per what we have all discussed and agreed on, we have to finish the Ho-bound lane, that is the left-hand side, then we take off the traffic so that we can get ample space to work on the defects”, he detailed. 

The 10.5-kilometres stretch would see the addition of a 60 mm wearing course to give it a smoother surface with other ancillary works. This would make the asphalt on the stretch 100 mm thick. 

The China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group Corporation Limited is expected to complete works on the Sokode Gborgame-Ho dual carriage road in December 2022. 

Dr. Letsa said some beautification works would be done on the median of the dual carriage road and street lights erected to complete the project. 

It is the expectation of the residents that the project would be handed over in December and worthy of its GhC99.1 million cost.