The completion of the Ofankor-Nsawam Dual Carriage Road project has been pushed back once again, with the latest projections indicating the road will not be ready until 2026 — a 15-month delay beyond the revised May 21, 2025, target.

Originally slated for completion on July 20, 2024, the project has experienced several setbacks, primarily due to unresolved compensation disputes and delays in relocating utility lines owned by institutions like the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Limited.

The most recent progress report reveals that the project is 74 per cent complete and will not meet the current timeline.

Chief Resident Engineer Kwabena Bempong revealed that of the 328 structures situated along the right of way, only 76 owners qualified for compensation. Of these, just 40 have received their payments. He added that progress has stalled since November 2024 as legal action by affected persons and financial constraints linked to unpaid compensations have significantly hindered work.

The delays were highlighted during an inspection visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, led by its Chairman and Wassa East MP Isaac Adjei Mensah, and Ranking Member Kennedy Osei Nyarko. The team also visited the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange and the Kasoa-Winneba Road Expansion projects.

At the €87 million Obetsebi Interchange, engineers cited stalled progress due to the government’s failure to settle interim payment certificates (IPCs). Owusu Sekyere Antwi, Resident Engineer of Fas Consult, noted that although the second phase is over 96 per cent done, an outstanding IPC of €20 million remains unpaid.

Back in January, Mr. Antwi had projected a March 2025 completion, noting that remaining works involved laying pavement blocks, asphalt surfacing, road markings, and traffic light installation.

Meanwhile, work on the Kasoa-Winneba stretch is reportedly advancing. Resident Engineer from ABP Consult shared that Lot A — covering interchanges at Sapato, Buduburam, Bereku, Akoti, and two footbridges — is 47 per cent complete and set for completion by March 2027.

Commenting on the situation, Mr. Adjei Mensah urged prompt action to resolve financial hurdles, especially at the Obetsebi Interchange, and called for enhanced collaboration between contractors, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and the GARID project to address drainage challenges.

He also pressed for intensified stakeholder engagement to overcome the compensation issues stalling the Ofankor-Nsawam and other road infrastructure projects.

Ranking Member Kennedy Osei Nyarko expressed disappointment with the repeated delays in the Ofankor-Nsawam dualisation project.

“This is a 33.4-kilometre project that was to be completed in 24 months, but it’s already delayed by almost a year. If delays persist, the cost to the government and taxpayers could nearly double,” he warned.

He emphasised the need for urgent steps to resolve issues related to encroachment and compensation to avoid further setbacks.