President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday cut sod for the commencement of construction of a 4-tier interchange at Suame, in fulfillment of a pledge he made during his tour of the Ashanti Region last year.
He said the Suame Interchange will be the first 4-tier interchange in the Ashanti Region, and the second in Ghana, after the Pokuase Interchange which he commissioned on July 9, 2021.
The President noted that, once completed, it will address the perennial congestion experienced around the Suame Roundabout, and improve urban mobility within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area.
Speaking during the sod cutting ceremony, he said the project would consist of a 4-tier interchange at the current Suame Roudabout; an overpass at Abrepo Junction; an overpass at Krofuom Junction; an overpass at Anomangye Junction; an overpass at Magazine New Road Junction; and an overpass at Abusuakruwa Junction.
The President further disclosed that the construction of the interchange will be undertaken by M/S Grupo Dizmar of Spain and Rango Construction Ltd a Ghanaian Company.
The complementary road component, he added, will be undertaken wholly by the Ghanaian firm Rango Construction Company Ltd, with supervision of the entire project being the responsibility of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, through the Department of Urban Roads.
The President charged the contractors and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to help ensure the country gets value for money, while contractors ensure strict adherence to completion dates.
Road projects
Apart from the Suame Interchange, the President indicated that government is tackling critical road projects throughout the country in a holistic manner, so that every part of Ghana gets quality, all weather roads.
“In the Ashanti Region alone, the Akufo-Addo government has completed asphalt overlay of 295kms of roads since 2017. Some of the beneficiary areas include Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, that is in Subin Nhyiaeso and Bantama, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Kwadaso, Suame, Old Tafo, Asokore Mampong, Bekwai, Obuasi, Ejisu, Juaben, Sekyere East (Effiduase), Asante Mampong and Atwima Nwabiagya South,” he said.
Government has also completed the construction of 100km of local roads in Kumasi, which was undertaken by M/S Contracta, with the beneficiary assemblies being Kumasi Metropolitan, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Oforikrom. Suame and Tafo Pakrono.
Aside the 100kms of local roads, he revealed that the Department of Urban Roads had completed another 75kms of town roads in Ashanti, including Bekwai town roads, Kwamo town roads, Manhyia Roads (Buokrom) and Ejisu/Kwaso town roads.
“The Department of Feeder Roads has also completed the upgrading of 68kms of selected feeder roads in the Ashanti and Western Regions, a project which was undertaken by M/S Sinohydro Corporation,” he stated.
Ongoing works
President Akufo-Addo noted that, in addition to the completed ones, work is ongoing on the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, which is 97% complete.
The works involved in this project, he said, include the upgrading of the Lake Road into a dual carriageway from the Coca Cola Bottling Plant to Dompoase (3.5km), and the lining of the Sissai Stream for 2km.
“The construction of a modern terminal at Dompoase, which is part of the project, has been completed and commissioned. It is expected that the entire project would be completed and commissioned by the end of the year. The works are being undertaken by M/S China Henan International Corporation- CHICO and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) of France,” the President said.
The construction of the Kumasi Inner City Roads, which involves the rehabilitation of another 100kms of local roads, is ongoing, together with the emergency rehabilitation of the 12km Atimatim-Maase-Aboabogya road.
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