On Thursday, 13th June, 2024, the minister of Roads and Highways Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye took his tour to the Northern Region and was warmly welcomed in Yendi by the Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II, at the historic Gbewa Palace.
The Minister was accompanied by the MP for Yendi, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama. During my visit, he also inspected the Daka bridge, part of the ongoing World Bank-funded Tamale-Yendi-Zabzugu-Tatale Road (172km) project under the Transport Sector Improvement Project (TSIP), with sections due for completion this year.
Prior to that, the Minister was led by the Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, to inspect the state of the road network in parts of the region. Our first stop was the Savelugu By-pass Road (13.0km), a project aimed at reducing congestion and improving mobility for haulage trucks and goods-carrying vehicles traveling the N10 route from Accra, Kumasi, Techiman, and Tamale to Burkina Faso. Additionally, he inspected the rehabilitation of the Pong Tamale Kpalung Larigu Road (5.0km) in Savelugu, which is progressing smoothly.
In Karaga, the Minister was joined by the Finance Minister and MP for Karaga, Hon. Mohammed Amin Adams, to pay homage to the Paramount Chief of the Karaga Traditional Area, Naa Bakpem KarNaa Abdulai Natogmah.
They also assessed the ongoing construction of town roads in Karaga, and the Minister was pleased to learn that areas previously known as "overseas" due to their inaccessibility are now seeing significant road construction thanks to the efforts of this government.
At Gushegu, the Minister was joined by Hon. Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, the MP for the area and deputy Minister for Transport where the Minister addressed a durbar of chiefs and elders, assuring residents that government is committed to completing the ongoing road projects in the area. In total, 140km of roads are being constructed in Gushegu to promote farming and trade activities.
"The government of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Dr. Bawumia has been instrumental in advancing road construction in the Northern Region. However, we remain fully committed to doing even more to promote the general economic well-being and development of our people." The Minister stated.
