The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has revealed that nine (9) sections of the Asem-asa N1 Highway, part of the Takoradi-Accra road, require immediate provisional maintenance.
According to the Regional Minister, a thorough assessment carried out by the Ghana Highways Authority indicates that the identified spots pose significant danger to both motorists and pedestrians.
“As you all know, this is a very important road. If you look at it from Accra to Elubo, you understand how crucial it is for both domestic and international trade. A lot of traffic from Côte d’Ivoire passes through here to Accra and beyond. Unfortunately, our portion of the stretch, from Cape Coast, is in a very deplorable state,” he stated.
The Minister said he has received multiple briefings from the Ghana Highways Authority that warrant immediate attention and action.
“In fact, in some sections, serious potholes have developed, posing great danger to motorists and impeding the free flow of traffic. During rush hour, heavy traffic builds up at Inchaban, Kojokrom, and Nkroful Junction, which is unacceptable.”
He added, “I decided to engage with the Ghana Highways Authority to explore what could be done about the situation.”
As a result, the Minister is working with the Ghana Highways Authority to fix the affected sections before the onset of the rainy season, which is just weeks away.
Speaking in an interview with the media shortly after inspecting the ongoing provisional maintenance works along the stretch on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Nelson assured motorists that he is actively collaborating with stakeholders to restore the road’s condition.
“Mind you, this is a major road. With the new government in place, it doesn’t seem like this is going under contract anytime soon. But with the rains coming fast, something needed to be done. Upon my engagement with the Highways Authority, they agreed to help but needed quarry materials to fill the gaping holes on the road. Luckily, we have some quarry companies in the Shama District, so I reached out to them, and they graciously agreed to support us.”
He expressed gratitude, saying, “A big thank you to them, and also to the Highways engineers and their team for stepping up to help resolve a problem that has long plagued motorists on this road.”
The Minister emphasized the road’s critical importance to trade along the West African subregion, making repairs essential and unavoidable.
“I’m happy with the work done today. This is the first day they’ve started on-site. For those familiar with this route, you know the Beposo section also has severe potholes, we’re going to address those too.”
Nelson warned that the beginning of the rainy season could further deteriorate the already bad road conditions, hence the urgency of the intervention.
“This is another area where we’ve had major issues, with trucks even tipping over at certain points. Seeing the Anto section filled and looking smooth is encouraging, it will enhance the flow of traffic and make travel from Cape Coast easier.”
He added, “This road is always heavy with traffic, including vehicles carrying goods across the West African sub-region, from Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, and other countries. Fixing it is not just about convenience, it’s about boosting regional connectivity.”
Explaining the motivation behind his intervention, the Minister said fixing the road is essential to improving the transport system in the region.
“This is simply what I set out to do with the Highways Authority and the quarry companies. I’m happy with the progress so far. Over the next few days, I believe they’ll tackle the remaining bad sections along the Takoradi-Cape Coast road, bringing much-needed relief to motorists.”
Joseph Nelson also commended the management of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), the Ghana Highways Authority, and quarry companies operating in the Shama District, GDC Quarry, Justmark Quarry, Coastal Quarry, among others, for providing the necessary materials for the provisional maintenance works.
He lauded their cooperation and commitment, noting their timely response to his appeal made the ongoing maintenance works possible.
Emmanuel Kwesi Rockson, the Western Regional Maintenance Manager of the Ghana Highways Authority, also briefed the media on the extent of work and the expected timeline for completion.
He stated that the Minister’s intervention will help prevent accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic congestion, challenges that have long affected the Takoradi-Cape Coast road.
