Speaking during the launch of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) in Accra on Wednesday [July 31, 2024], President Akufo-Addo said the developments by his administration reflects a level of efficiency in addressing Ghana’s infrastructural needs in a manner that had not been seen before. 

He compared the projects by his government to that of former presidents John Evans Atta-Mills and John Mahama, and stressed that the impact of his developments were far reaching; enhancing connectivity, boosting economic and improving the quality of life for countless Ghanaians. 

“From 2009 to 2016, that is the Mills/Mahama era, our nation completed 4,636 km of road and five interchanges and overpasses. 

"However, since January 2017 to date, that is the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia era, we’ve witnessed exceptional improvements in our road networks nationwide,” the President noted.  

“We have successfully completed a total of 12,830 km of roads across the country and added six more interchanges. These accomplishments including asphalt overlays 1,936.48 km, new constructions 659.81 km, gravelling/re-gravelling - 6,529.82 km;  reconstruction and partial reconstructions- 374.95km; rehabilitations - 1,271.90 km; re-ceiling 108.24km; surfacing 1,948.76 km and key bridge construction construction 35,” he elaborated. 

President Akufo-Addo also said that his government was currently working on 10 new interchanges five of which would be completed by the end of the year while the remaining five would be completed in 2025. 

He stressed that his government believed that the importance of local road networks is key to the development of Ghana because when they are well maintained, travel becomes easier and more efficient.

“This reduction in travel time translates directly into economic gains. Goods can be transported more quickly, services can be delivered more efficiently and people can move about more freely. This in turn leads to an increase in productivity and a boost to local economies ,” the President explained. 

In that vein, he intimated that by empowering MMDCAs with the resources and equipment necessary for road construction and maintenance, we are engendering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

He said they would be community leaders, local and traditional authorities would be directly in charge of the development and upkeep of their infrastructure to meet local needs and conditions.