Contractors working on the 73.6-kilometer Takoradi–Cape Coast road redevelopment project under the “Big Push” Agenda commenced a mass demolition exercise on Monday, January 19, 2026, targeting temporary structures along the highway.
The operation started from the PTC Interchange towards Shama, with visible sorrow on the faces of occupants who had delayed evacuation despite repeated warnings.
Three units one each from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, and Shama Municipal Assembly are leading the exercise, systematically removing every remaining temporary structure along the road shoulders.
Municipal Engineer for Effia Kwesimintsim, Ishmael Adusei, who is supervising the demolition from PTC Interchange to GNAT Hall, Fijai, stated that contractors will no longer tolerate further delays.
“Authorities have granted affected persons enough time to relocate,” he said, adding that those who have already begun dismantling their structures will be given until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to complete the process.
“If you’ve started, we will consider you. We will skip to the next structure. By Wednesday, we have to clear both sides of the road,” Mr. Adusei clarified.
The exercise follows a final warning issued by Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, urging owners and occupants to evacuate before demolition began. Many structures remain standing, indicating that a majority of those affected did not heed the directive.
Background Following the groundbreaking ceremony by President Mahama in October 2025 for the reconstruction of the Cape Coast–Takoradi road, the assemblies along the corridor intensified engagements with affected persons.
In December 2025, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, and Shama Municipal Assembly issued evacuation notices. Some resistance led to an extension after Christmas, with the initial target of January 5, 2026, not fully met until the current exercise.
The road project, undertaken by Messrs S&L Construction and Engineering Ltd. and Messrs Alkyro Jules Limited Company, is expected to be completed in 2027.
The ongoing demolition has displaced several traders and residents, underscoring the tension between infrastructure development and the livelihoods of those operating along major highways. Authorities have appealed for cooperation to ensure smooth progress on the critical corridor.
