The participants also used the period to review and make inputs on the new road design guide developed for the country.

The guide is intended to provide road engineers and other related professionals the technical standards, guidelines and recommendations for the design of road infrastructure in the country.

The document is to additionally ensure uniformity in cross section, alignment, intersections, drainage and other road-related infrastructure.

It is to also ensure optimum level of safety and comfort for road users, assist in arriving at economic design of roads at the end towards achieving a road infrastructure that is environmentally friendly sustainable and climate resilient.

The document was put together by the ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads and the Department of Feeder Roads in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with intent to establish a uniform procedure and standards for planning and designing of roads in the country.

The Director Policy and planning of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mrs Rita Ohene Sarfo, on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr Kwasi Amoako- Atta, said the Ministry has had a good relationship with JICA for the past four years on the development of the comprehensive document to guide road and bridge construction and maintenance, and the pact would end in two-months.

JICA, she explained, had been building the capacity of the staff of the Ministry as well as its agencies and has also undertaken series of technical meetings and programmes on and off the field.

Mrs Sarfo indicated that the participants at the end of the seminar were also given the opportunity to delve into the manuals towards making inputs to exhibit how prepared the Ministry was in developing a road infrastructure that could stand the test of time.

“Those manuals were developed in collaboration with our own people who are seasoned engineers of the ministry, and JICA must be commended for introducing the dream to the ministry, which would start reaping its fruit in a few years to come” she noted.

Mrs Sarfo stated that the seminar would also be used to disseminate results of the Excel patch, the new Japanese technology, used in road patching and pot hole filling that can be stored longer than a year and can also be used during the rainy season.

She said it was important to gain experience in using the dash camera, smart phones with cost effective measures to determine the nature of the country’s roads.

The Director appealed to JICA to assist the Ministry review the technical specifications so that it would match with the manuals to enhance a sustainable road infrastructure for the country.

The Head of, JICA expert Team, Mr Motoki Ogawa, speaking on Japan’s experiences, said the review of the roads infrastructure would help improve the design and maintenance of roads as done in his country.