The government has invested over GHC 4 billion to improve the road network in the Western Region from 2017 to 2022.
The investments have seen the completion of 72.89km of urban roads, 152.98km of feeder roads and 26.5 km of highway roads while 180.1km of urban roads, 775.88km of feeder and 504.7 of highway roads are ongoing.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, highlighted projects the government had undertaken in the agriculture, health, roads and infrastructure sectors since 2017.
The Minister mentioned some major roads that have been completed, such as the rehabilitation of the 1.6km WAMCO – Effiakuma road and the 36km Tarkwa – Darmang road.
He said the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (3-tier) is 68% completed with the dualization of the Paa Grant progressing steadily.
Mr Darko-Mensah added that the Kojokrom – Manso section of the railway line has been completed, while the construction of the 78km rail line (Manso – Nsuta) section of the Western Railway line is on course and expected to be completed by July 2023.
On port infrastructure, the Regional Minister disclosed that the government has constructed four ports in the region to help boost the port system in the country.
He mentioned the ports as the automated oil jetty at Takoradi Port, a modern container terminal at the Takoradi Port, Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Ezinlibo in Jomoro and a Fishing Harbour and Landing Beaches at Axim and Dixcove.
He said the construction of a new modern Regional Hospital, a 400-Bed 5-storey facility, was ongoing while a 60-bed capacity hospital at Bokro in the Ahanta West, is about 30% complete.
The Minister cited over 18 other health infrastructures that are either completed or ongoing, particularly the completion of the 25-bed Wassa Dunkwa in Amenfi West Polyclinic and the ongoing construction of the 60-bed Agenda 111 hospital at Bokro in Ahanta West, which is about 30% Completed
Touching on education, Mr Darko-Mensah said a total of 47 GETFUND projects, 22 completed and 25 ongoing have been undertaken at the Senior high School level while 36 projects, 21 completed and 15 are ongoing at the basic level. Also, 144 District Assembly Common Fund projects, 48 completed and 68 ongoing have been undertaken across the region.
He said the establishment of the Western Region Investment Centre in June 2019 is to promote private investment in the region.
“The vision of the centre is to provide one-stop-shop facilitation for investment and tourism activities in the region and to streamline investments in the region,” he added.
He also encouraged Ghanaians to invest in the region since there is vast investment potential in Agriculture, Mining, Tourism, Oil and Gas.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
