The Maripoma Saga : Contractor Moves Facilities To Site But Residents Remain Cautiously Optimistic On  Nsawam–Pokuase Roads

For many, it feels like déjà vu—an all-too-familiar cycle of promises, brief mobilisations, and long stretches of abandonment.

On Tuesday  morning, this reporter observed heavy-duty trucks, graders, and concrete mixers being transported onto portions of the Nsawam–Pokuase stretch. Company-branded vehicles bearing the name Maripoma Enterprise Limited lined parts of the road, while a skeletal crew of workers began preliminary activities around Amasaman Junction.

It is the first visible sign of work since the exposé revealed the transfer of over GHS809 million to Maripoma’s account in three tranches.

But optimism is mixed with suspicion.

“We’ve seen this movie before,” said Cynthia Okine, a trader at Pokuase. “They bring machines, make noise for a few days, then vanish again. Unless we see tar on the road, we won’t believe.”

Breaking his silence, Ali Seidu, Managing Director of Maripoma Enterprise, defended his company in a telephone conversation with this reporter.

“The Ghanaian populace must be rest assured that we are going to finish this road as soon as we can. We were mobilizing. The money just hit our accounts and we are on site. It takes time to mobilize everybody. But I can assure you that as we speak today everybody is on site working,” he said.

His comments mark the first direct explanation from the company since questions about the whereabouts of the GHS809 million surfaced.

The government, already embarrassed by the revelations of The Maripoma Money Trail, has not issued an official statement. However, insiders at the Ministry of Roads & Highways quietly confirm that the return of Maripoma to site follows “high-level instructions” from the Presidency to avoid further unrest.

Communities along the stretch are breathing a little easier, but remain wary.

•Commercial drivers hope the return of work will cut down hours lost in traffic gridlock.

•Shop owners dream of a revival of customer flow once road conditions improve.

•Parents pray for fewer accidents and school delays caused by poor road conditions.

“Until we see asphalt, road markings, and completion certificates, we won’t clap,” said Jeffrey Smith, convener of the Nsawam Traffic Watch Community. “We’ve been fooled too many times.”

While Mr. Seidu insists mobilization was the cause of delay, experts are unconvinced.

“In international best practice, no serious government releases 100% payment before completion,” argued civil engineer Benjamin Tawiah. “What happened here is a systemic failure—and simply resuming work doesn’t erase the questions.”

With Maripoma back on site, commuters are left with one pressing question: Will the road finally be built, or is this just another mirage?

The Ofankor–Nsawam road, one of Ghana’s busiest arteries linking Accra to the Eastern Region, remains a daily ordeal for hundreds of thousands. Until blacktop replaces the dust, and until the contractor delivers a completed highway, trust will remain in short supply.

For now, the bulldozers have returned. But for the commuters choking on dust and dodging potholes, the real victory will be the day they can drive on a finished road.

It would be recalled that the New Crusading Guide in its Monday, 18 August edition published a story with the headline

“Money Gone, Road Unfinished

Written by its investigative reporter Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the story featured the Ofankor–Nsawam Road, one of Ghana’s most vital highways, contractor Ali Siedu being payed an amount of  GHS809 million (approx. $77 million) while the road remained unattended to.

Documents revealed that between 28th July and 4th August 2025, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department issued three separate instructions to the Bank of Ghana transferring the full amount into Maripoma’s Zenith Bank (UK) account.