Removal of problematic roundabouts on Kumasi-Ejisu highway to start soon- Minister

Roads and Highway Minister Hon. Kwasi-Amoako Atta has explained that the delay in the removal of the four problematic roundabouts on the Kumasi-Accra highway in 2017 after his order, was to allow free flow of traffic during the final funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, which was scheduled from 1st to 11th of December 2017.

He said, the funeral rites was a major event which attracted a lot of people from all walks of life, and removing the roundabouts would have caused a lot of congestions on the highway, leading to inconveniences to them.

Roads and Highways Minister, during his tour of the Ashanti region in November 2017, ordered for the removal of four roundabouts on Kumasi-Ejisu stretch of the main Kumasi-Accra for the free flow of traffic following reports of the inconvenience and accidents caused by the narrowing of the roads by the cobblestones lined around the roundabout.

The four roundabouts in question are the Ejisu roundabout, Oduom Roundabout, Buadi Junction roundabout, and Tech roundabout.

Hon. Akwasi Amoako Atta wanted traffic lights to be installed to replace the rounds-abouts.

Speaking in an interview with Otec News, Hon. Amoako Atta said the funeral took place during the Christmas season which also was characterized by busy activities, especially on the Kumasi-Accra highway, and was very difficult for the ministry to embark on the exercise, which could have created a heavy congestion on the highway.

“We wanted to do the work immediately but we paused when the official date for the final funeral rites for the late Queenmother of Asanteman was announced, and in order not to create congestion on the road for those attending the funeral during the busy period, we decided to postpone the exercise,” he said.

“We knew that if we had started the exercise, we wouldn’t have finished it before the funeral started, which was done for one month. After the funeral also came the Christmas and the New Year festivities which come with a lot of busy activities. Now that these are all over, we are about to start the exercise so I will use this opportunity to plead with both motorists and pedestrians to cooperate for the success of the exercise,” he added.

Source: otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah