Mankessim Traditional Council Refutes Roads Minister’s ‘Cultural Heritage’ Claim on Mankessim Roundabout [VIDEO+PHOTOS]

Omanhen of the Mankessim Traditional Area and President of the Traditional Council, His Royal Eminence Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI

The Mankessim Traditional Council has strongly rejected claims by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, that the Mankessim Roundabout is a cultural heritage site preventing the continuation of the Winneba–Mankessim highway project through the township.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Paramount Chief (Omanhen) of the Mankessim Traditional Area and President of the Traditional Council, His Royal Eminence Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, questioned the basis of the minister’s remarks and denied that traditional authorities had declared the roundabout a protected cultural heritage site.

According to the Omanhen, the Traditional Council remains committed to statements previously made by President John Dramani Mahama regarding the continuation of the major highway expansion project through Mankessim roundabout.

He reiterated the President’s earlier position that the road construction project would connect Kasoa to Winneba, continue from Winneba to the Mankessim Roundabout, and then extend onward to Cape Coast as part of the government’s broader infrastructure Big Push agenda.

Minister’s Comments Spark Controversy

During a recent courtesy visit to the Central Region, Roads Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza reportedly stated:
“From the Winneba Junction to Mankessim is very important. The bypass, as we will see, is also very important because initially the road was directed into Mankessim roundabout, and you know that roundabout is a cultural heritage site.

We could not undertake this scale of work through the roundabout and still maintain those historic features.”

The remarks have since generated widespread debate across the Mfantseman Municipality, with traditional leaders insisting they were neither consulted nor informed about any decision to classify the Mankessim Roundabout as a heritage site.

Mankessim Traditional Council Demands Stakeholder Consultation

The Traditional Council accused officials of the Highways Authority of failing to honour an earlier promise to engage stakeholders on the matter.

According to the Council, a letter dated February 26, 2026 scheduled a stakeholder consultation meeting for March 5, 2026, but the engagement never took place.

The Council said it was therefore surprised to later encounter circulating videos on social media explaining why the road project would allegedly not pass through the Mankessim Roundabout.

“We, the Nananom of the Mankessim Traditional Council, clearly and unequivocally state that none of us have been consulted by anybody on the statues at the Mankessim Roundabout,” the Council declared.

Call for New Meeting Date

The Traditional Council has now called on the Ghana Highways Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to honour their commitment to stakeholder engagement by fixing a new date for consultations.

The chiefs emphasized that discussions involving developmental projects of such magnitude must include traditional authorities and local stakeholders before final decisions are taken.

The Winneba–Mankessim highway expansion forms part of a key road infrastructure project expected to improve transportation, ease traffic congestion, and boost economic activities within the Central Region and beyond.

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