Work on KATH-Abuakwa road at slow pace

Steel workers of China Geo Engineering Corporation working on the Agric junction underpass

Work on the 10.3 Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital- Abuakwa asphaltic concrete surface dual carriageway in Kumasi was progressing at a slow pace.
Former President J. A. Kufuor cut the sod on April 21, 2007 for work to commence on the US$80 million project, which is one of the principal trunk roads in Kumasi.
The project, involves widening of the existing two-lane single carriageway into a dual carriageway with walkways and Bus Rapid Transit facilities, construction of two interchanges, five underpass bridges and landscaping.
However, almost 21 months down the line, the Chinese Contractors, Messrs China Geo Engineering Corporation was yet to achieve any meaningful visible feat on the project.
The contractors are currently working on the first underpass at the Agric Junction out of the entire five underpasses they are to construct in addition to the two interchanges, one at Sofoline and the other at the present Komfo Anokye roundabout.
Landscaping for the sofoline interchange had been done but that of Komfo Anokye was yet to be touched.
In addition landscaping from Bekwai roundabout through Sofoline, Asuoyeboah and Tanoso had also been done.
The project, which is being financed wholly by the Government of Ghana is scheduled for completion within three years.
Many residents of Kumasi expressed delight when work commenced on the project and expressed the hope that the traffic congestion in one of the busiest roundabouts in the metropolis – Sofoline – would soon be a thing of the past.
As a result they are eager to see the completion of the project on schedule without any hindrances.
At the sofoline interchange, traffic from the Abrepo junction and Patasi roads are to be directed to the Sunyani road through an underpass bridge. This is anticipated to ensure the free flow of traffic at the location, which is currently one of the traffic bottlenecks in the city.
A second two level interchange to control vehicular movement will also be constructed at the KATH roundabout, while five underpass bridges would be developed at the University of Education Winneba (UEW) Kumasi campus, Institute of Planning and Technology (IPT), Agric, Apatrapa and South Suntreso junctions to facilitate the smooth flow of vehicular traffic at that

PBC provides borehole for people of Gyankobaah

Nana Asiamah Poku, Toasehene tasting water from the borehole in a calabash. With him is Mr Anthony Osei Boakye, Managing Director of the Produce Buying Company (PBC).


The Produce Buying Company Limited has provided the people of Gyankobaah, a town in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ashanti with a borehole valued at GH¢8,030.
This is to enable the town folk have access to clean drinking water since they relied on a stream as their source of water following the breakdown of the borehole in the town.
The Managing Director of PBC, Mr Anthony Osei Boakye explained at the commissioning ceremony that his outfit decided to assist with the borehole as part of its corporate social responsibility.
He said the PBC have decided to provide three (3) boreholes every year at various cocoa producing areas in the country.
He said the PBC instituted a cocoa farmers award day about seven years ago, where hardworking farmers were awarded by the company every year.
Mr Boakye said the company have decided to change focus and rather provide boreholes, which it felt would go to the benefit of many people in the communities instead of the awards which went to individuals.
He said another borehole had been constructed for the people of Boudi in the Western region and would soon be commissioned.
Mr Thomas Ofori Donkoh, District Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya and the chief of Toase, Nana Asiamah Poku expressed appreciation to PBC for the kind gesture.
There was delight on the faces of the community members of Gyankobaah, especially the women folk who sang and danced and expressed appreciation to PBC for the kind gesture.
The DCE Mr Thomas Ofori Donkoh said the provision of clean drinking water with the construction of boreholes was prime on the agenda of the District Assembly.
He said a total of 73 boreholes were provided for various communities in 2008 and that the assembly have planned to install 200 this year in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
He called for the expansion of the cocoa spraying gangs in the area so as to enable a lot more farmers benefit from the spraying exercise.
Mr Kwaku Gaisie, Ashanti Regional Manager of PBC called on the community members to take very good care of the borehole so as to ensure a longer lifespan.