The Nkawkaw to New Abirem road in the Eastern Region will soon see a major facelift as plans are far advanced to construct the 41-kilometre road network.
As part of their corporate social responsibilities, Newmont Ghana is partnering the government and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to construct the road to save commuters on that stretch the stress in transporting their produce.
Under the partnership, Newmont Ghana will invest US$15 million to construct 16 kilometers of the road while the government and COCOBOD will fund the rest.
According to Francois Hardy, Newmont Africa’s Regional Senior Vice-President, the company’s aim is to “leave our operational areas better than we found them in ways that matter and we believe that the best approach to sustainable development is through partnerships.”
On his part, the Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Emmanuel Agyeman Dwomoh, says the Cocoa Roads Rehabilitation Programme has contributed significantly in improving the road network in the country to open it up for economic activities.
Volta Impex, a Ghanaian contractor, will execute the road construction project over the next 18 months, relying on local employment and sourcing.
The Ghana Highway Authority will provide technical supervision for the road project and a joint governance team, consisting of Newmont Ghana, COCOBOD and Ghana Highway Authority representatives, will be responsible for managing the project.
Other projects
Mr Hardy also mentioned that the project complements other Akyem community road improvement projects Newmont Ghana had previously completed, including rehabilitating the 2.3 kilometre stretch of road from the mine to Adausena in 2013, as well as the 2.9-kilometre road from New Abirem to the Akyem Mine in 2016.
The company is also currently collaborating with the Ghana Highway Authority to maintain and construct a 5-kilometre road within its Akyem host communities at a cost of US$1.2 million. Newmont Ghana is also constructing four kilometres of key roads in its Ahafo South communities, where its other mine is located.
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