Delayed construction projects pollute air, put lives at risk

Residents and workers in the Adentan–Dodowa area have endured a year of dust and hazardous pollutants due to a construction project that has been delayed and stalled. Originally set to take three years, the 22-kilometre dual carriageway extension between the Adentan Barrier and Dodowa Hospital Junction has faced numerous obstacles, including poor oversight and corruption in government-funded projects.

The failure to timely compensate contractors has led to further delays, potentially prolonging the community's suffering. Experts attribute the project's setbacks to missed payments, which force contractors to abandon their work.

The roadworks, part of the government's "Big Push" infrastructure development initiative, were awarded to Ghanaian company Oswal Investments in March 2024 under a 36-month contract. However, by the following year, the project's progress had stalled, with Minister for Roads and Highways Kwame Agbodza acknowledging the delay and blaming the previous government's failure to make the agreed payments.

The project's manager, Gabriel Foli, mentioned property acquisition, negotiations for compensation, and utility line relocation as contributing factors. He reassured the public that two-thirds of the project was complete and expected to be finished by March 2027.

Residents, however, are suffering the consequences of the delays. Mary Adjiele, a local resident, reported that three of her grandchildren developed severe coughs and high fevers since the work began. The family has had to spend significant income on medical treatment at Alpha and Omega Hospital in Dodowa. Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to dust particles, which contain fine particles, cement, silica, and vehicle exhaust, can lead to chronic illnesses like kidney and heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Fine particulate matter from road dust can enter the bloodstream, causing irritation of airways and potentially leading to blood in coughs.

Health authorities in Ghana acknowledge the need for infrastructure development to boost economic activity, but they emphasize that the health impacts of these projects must not be overlooked. The Ghana Health Service reports an increase in respiratory illnesses in the Greater Accra Region, with hypertension being the fifth-highest cause of death in Accra due to air pollution-linked diseases.

Dr. Robert Amesiya, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, noted that nearly 40,000 asthma and cardiac cases were reported in the region in the two years leading up to 2023.

Residents along the construction site express their concerns, with spare-parts dealer and local resident Haruna Mohammed pleading with the government to asphalt the road to alleviate the dust and protect public health. Despite the challenges, the community remains hopeful that the project will eventually be completed, improving traffic flow, road safety, and economic opportunities in the region.