#SafeMotorway4All: Reconstruct pothole-ridden Tema Motorway, says Chamber
Several attempts by the government to rehabilitate the Accra-Tema Motorway have over the years proven futile
The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries is calling for a total reconstruction of the pothole-ridden Accra-Tema Motorway that has taken several lives over the decades.
The chamber has lamented the poor maintenance culture of Ghanaians leading to the deplorable nature of the 19-kilometre stretch that links the harbour city, Tema to Accra.
Several attempts by the government to rehabilitate the Accra-Tema Motorway have over the years proven futile. Attempts to also use foreign contractors to fix the deplorable motorway have failed due to lack of funds.
Speaking to Asaase News, the chief executive officer of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Cherry said the motorway needs a major facelift to be safe again.
“We are very fast in constructing roads but maintenance becomes a challenge,” Cherry said. “So, we don’t have a maintenance culture.”
“The same applies to the Tema Motorway. The potholes you are seeing today, they are no more potholes but manholes killing innocent souls on daily basis as a result of negligence and non-maintenance.
“What has come of the motorway, even though it may over-live its lifespan, the best thing for us to do is to reconstruct [it],” Cherry said.
Listen to Emmanuel Cherry in the attached audio clip:
About campaign
The Asaase Radio public interest campaign series will spotlight the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure and citizens’ power in bringing about change. The campaign promises to bring critical attention to an issue that affects the lives of many Ghanaians.
The Accra-Tema Motorway is an essential artery for Ghana’s economy, linking the largest port in the country with the capital city.
However, years of neglect and lack of maintenance have left the N1 in a state of disrepair, leading to accidents and traffic congestion.
In line with #SeeSomethingSaySomething and the government’s efforts to urge all Ghanaians to be active “citizens, not spectators”, the #SafeMotorway4All campaign will identify key challenges to the smooth working of the N1 and push for action to address these.
Don’t forget to join the campaign by sharing your experiences, appeals and solutions on social media with the hashtags #SafeMotorway4all.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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