The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, has cut the sod  for the commencement of  feeder roads totalling 71.76 kilometres in  Nsawam in the Akuapem South Municipality.

The roads constitute Lot 2 of road infrastructure development in the Easter Region under the Transportation Project of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana Project.

Some of the roads to be worked on are Odeikrom/Pakro 7.44 kms, Nsawam/Odeikrom 6.7 kms, Odeikrom/Dago, 9.97 kms, Adese/Ankwaso/Aboabo, 10.26 kms and Amanfrom-Otiakrom, 7.85.

Mr Gidisu said the decision to include those roads in the Transportation Project of the Millennium Challenge Account Compact was consistent with government’s plans to upgrade the nation’s road infrastructure in order to improve transport disparities between the rural and urban areas.

It is also aimed at reducing vehicle operation and maintenance costs and thereby improve the competitiveness of agricultural producers located in the Akuapem South District who would use those roads.

Mr Gidisu said poor road infrastructure inhibited the expansion of agricultural opportunities by limiting linkages to major domestic and international agricultural markets.

He noted  that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC’s) funding of the Transportation Project is to undertake improvements on the road networks, in particular primary and secondary roads in the Intervention Zones.

Mr Gidisu appealed to all who would be affected by the project to cooperate with the consultants in charge of resettlement and the contractors who would be working on the roads.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minster, said for Ghana to make a significant impact on its development agenda and join the middle income nations, the road sector  must be given priority attention .

He said giving priority to the construction of feeder roads implies that government good roads are not the preserve of cities and urban centres.

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