Construction works are set to resume on the abandoned 23-kilometre Dome-Kwabenya–Berekuso–Kitase road after more than a decade of delays.

Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza, speaking during a tour of the road project on Tuesday, September 22, told contractors and community leaders that work would resume on September 24 following the issuance of a Commencement Authorisation Letter.

According to him, the intention is not to repeat the ‘touch-and-go’ approach adopted previously, which left the project stalled for years, but to ensure that once work resumes, the project is completed.

“As said this week, the contractors working on Dome-Kitase must fully mobilise back to site under the direction of President Mahama. And this time round, let’s be clear, this time round, we don’t want any touch-and-go thing. When you mobilise to site, let’s see full action on the site.”

His tour comes about a month after residents demonstrated over the stalled Dome–Kwabenya–Berekuso–Kitase road project on Monday, August 17.

The protest started around 9:00 a.m. and continued into the early afternoon, with protesters blocking sections of the road, carrying placards and demanding immediate government action to restart the project.

Speaking in reaction to the demonstration, the Minister clarified that the resumption of the project was not in response to the protest, stressing the importance of completing the project for the country and the economy.

He said demonstrations do not provide the funds needed for road projects, but resources do.

“Let me be frank with you. We did not come here to start the work because you did a demonstration. You cannot use a demonstration to start a road project. We use resources to start road projects.

“A demonstration will not amount to money in the bank for the Ministry of Roads and Highways. It will take money from taxes or loans. We are doing this because it is a road that Ghana needs, not a road that only Akwapim needs.”

Actual construction works on the Dome–Kwabenya–Berekuso–Kitase road began around 2016–2017, but progress was slow due to funding challenges and difficulties faced by the contractor.

By 2019–2020, work had largely stalled, leaving the road in poor condition and frustrating commuters who ply the route.

The road is currently about 27% complete and is in poor condition, a situation that has worried residents and road users.

It serves as a key link between Kwabenya, Comet, Berekuso, Agyementi and Kitase, and also connects the area to Peduase and Aburi.