ACQUISITION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY [ROW] FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN PERI-URBAN GHANA: THE CASE OF APOWA-KEJEBRIL ROAD

The challenges associated with acquiring road space for reconstruction works can be daunting, especially in urban or peri-urban settings. The objective of this case study was to present the main challenges in the acquisition of right-of-way (ROW) for the reconstruction of a 3.25km road connecting Apowa and Kejebril, Western Region, and make recommendations to minimise the impacts on future constructions in similar settings. The roadway finished with paving blocks, comprises a 7.5m carriageway with a 2.0m walkway/shoulders on both sides, thus lying within a 16m ROW. Key challenges that impacted the reconstruction works are delays contributing to 37% (4 months) of the originally scheduled period for construction, construction cost overruns estimated at more than 32.5% of the total cost overrun (GHS 4 million) comprising relocation of utilities- electricity, water, communication services and compensations for affected persons. The compensations for owners of buildings sited within the ROW, operators of commercial businesses along the roadway were thorny issues that contributed significantly to delays for the acquisition of ROW for the project. The difficulty in locating the exact positions of buried utility services (i.e water and communication) for relocations led to avoidable losses which contributed to construction cost overruns and delays. The keeping of accurate database on the positions of buried utility services using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications could significantly reduce the costs of acquisition of ROW. Also, spatial development agencies should enforce by-laws prohibiting roadside commercial activities to avert squatters demanding compensations when the need for acquiring the ROW for reconstruction works arises.