Illegal Mining Pits Hinder Progress on Accra-Kumasi Highway Bypasses

Contractors working on the Accra-Kumasi Highway bypasses are facing significant challenges due to the presence of uncovered pits left behind by illegal miners.

The pits, which are scattered throughout the project sites, are not only hindering the progress of the construction work but also posing a significant risk to the safety of the contractors and their equipment.

The bypasses, which are being built to address the congestion and high incidence of crashes on the Kumasi-Accra Highway, are expected to reduce travel time and improve road safety. However, the illegal mining activities in the area are threatening to derail the project’s timeline and budget.

Despite efforts by the government to clamp down on illegal mining, the practice persists, and the contractors are bearing the brunt of it.

The uncovered pits are forcing the contractors to divert resources to filling them, which is adding to the project’s costs and delaying its completion.

Currently, the government is constructing four bypasses: Osino (11.6km), Anyin am (6.1km), Enyiresi (10.6km), and Konongo (13.5km).