Sekondi to Takoradi road dualisation at 7% completion, contractors bemoan delay due to utility facilities

The contractor working on the expansion of the Takoradi to Sekondi road project wants a speedy removal of the utility facilities on the stretch to facilitate work to enable timely completion.

The €65 million project which is expected to be completed within 2 years has seen only 7% of completed works after 5 months of operation hence the call.

The 21 kilometres road is expected to be completed on 14 August 2024.

Engineer Seth Owieredu speaking to the media on what has been done so far said, “The total roads in terms of scope are six, namely the Axim Road, the Shippers Council Road, the Adiembra Road, the De-Graft Johnson Road, the Sekondi Road and the Harbour Road.”

“The total kilometres is 21 kilometres and in terms of percentage of how much work has been done is 7%.”

“The scope of works that have been completed now is the clearing and demolition, we have also done some rock filling and placement of fabrics at swampy areas.”

“We have also done an extension of the culvert, the existing culvert has all been extended to accommodate the expansion.”

He added that they are currently behind schedule due to expropriation issues and are trying to complete the project on time.

“We are currently behind schedule due to expropriation issues, they are government and private properties. We have started the process to compensate the property owners so they can be paid and we move on.”

Also, the contractors of the project fear that the utility service facilities like the electricity poles and Ghana Water Company Limited pipelines may delay the project and are calling for their re-location as soon as possible.

He added that funding for the relocation and compensation is not a challenge because the contract made provision for expropriation but it’s a provisional sum and for now it has not been exhausted but that is what is being used.

The Electricity Company of Ghana’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Western Region, Mr Benjamin Qauicoe speaking to the media said ECG has done their assessment which includes cost and has submitted it to the consultant.

He said, “We have also recommended eligible electrical contractors for the project to be successful.”

The Western Region Distribution Manager for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Engineer Desmond Annor speaking to the media said they have identified all the pipelines that will be affected by the project as far back as June 2022.

He said the Ghana Water Company Limited on its part has done whatever it needs to do concerning the project but the problem now is finding common ground between the main contractor and the subcontractor.