The Ministry of Roads and Highways has launched the “Maintain MY Road” initiative to tackle ongoing road maintenance issues, and enhance public engagement.
The new programme features a maintenance call centre and a mobile app designed to provide real-time information on road defects, and to enable citizens to report issues directly.
Speaking during the launch at Accra yesterday, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, said “Maintain MY Road” initiative is a significant component of the ministry’s Enhanced Maintenance Programme, aimed at improving routine maintenance activities such as pothole patching, road grading, and traffic signal repairs.
The Minister pointed out that as part of the initiative, 60% of the road maintenance budget from the Ghana Road Fund would be allocated to address these pressing issues across the national road network.
Shift focus
He stressed the need for a shift in focus towards road maintenance. He cited recent government’s achievement in completing six new interchanges, 35 bridges, and over 12,800 kilometers of road.
He, however, acknowledged that routine maintenance had not received adequate attention or investment from previous administrations.
“For this purpose, the Ministry introduced the Enhanced Maintenance Programme at the start of the year. Our focus is on ensuring regular maintenance activities, including pothole patching on paved roads and grading of unpaved roads,” he noted.
He explained that the new programme operates on three key pillars: prioritising essential maintenance activities, ensuring sustainable funding for these activities, and fostering public involvement.
He disclosed that the call centre and mobile app would be piloted over the next five months, initially focusing on major trunk roads and four principal cities: Accra-Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.
Prioritise funding
In his remarks, Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Chairman of the Ghana Road Fund Board, emphasised the commitment to prioritize funding for road maintenance.
“Funds for routine and periodic maintenance will be directed where they are most needed to ensure that our road network remains in good condition and that the public’s safety and comfort are upheld,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said.
He believes that the “Maintain MY Road” initiative would create a more responsive and efficient system for addressing road maintenance issues in the country’s road infrastructure.
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