Plans are far advanced for the construction of concrete roads across the country instead of asphalting them, according to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He said government, in consultation with engineers from the Ministry of Roads, has discovered that concrete roads last longer and less expensive than asphalted ones.
“When we did the analysis and costing, we realized that a kilometer of a dual carriage concrete road will cost the country $3.8 million and that of asphalt $2.8 million, but the concrete road will last for 40 years while the asphalt will last for only ten years,” the veep underscored.
Dr Bawumia gave this hint during this year’s Good Friday service organized by the Light House Chapel International at the Independence Square in Accra.
He said the Charismatic Bishops’ Conference, led by the Presiding Bishop of Light House Chapel, Dag Heward-Mills, proposed this idea to the government for consideration.
The men of God wondered why Ghana was building asphalt roads but do not produce asphalt in Ghana.
The men of God, Dr Bawumia said, cited the Accra-Tema Motorway as an example, looking at its longevity, as compared to asphalt roads.
He described the proposal as “pure wisdom,” adding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo immediately took that into consideration and asked engineers at the Roads Ministry to do the comparative analysis and costing.
The vice president added that government was taking steps to implement that proposal as part of its transformational development policies.
He therefore, asked Ghanaians to sacrifice a little for the sake of the nation’s development.
Dr Bawumia said it is prudent for Ghanaians to also sacrifice a little just as Jesus did for mankind.
Speaking with ardor, the vice president, who is an ardent Muslem, said, “We want to be a country that can do things for ourselves and not beg for everything, for we know we can do it.
“Recently, I travelled to Dubai and while chatting with the authorities, I told them we Ghanaians no longer need aid but trade, for we also want to develop,” he disclosed.
In a brief remark, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills assured the vice president of the church’s support in terms of prayers and counselling for the government.
He stated, “We don’t support any political party but once you are in power we will support you to succeed, so you can count on our support and we trust that you will succeed.”
In his sermon, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills noted that human beings have become progressively evil “that is why we continue to fight among ourselves.”
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