On Tuesday (18 October 2022) President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the start of works on a four-tier interchange in Suame, Kumasi, fulfilling a pledge he made during his tour of the Ashanti Region last year.
According to Akufo-Addo, “The Suame Interchange will be the first four-tier interchange in the Ashanti Region, and the second in Ghana, after the Pokuase Interchange, which I commissioned on 9 July 2021.”
He said that, once completed, it will address the perennial congestion experienced around the Suame Roundabout and improve urban mobility within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area.
Addressing the gathering, the president announced that the Suame Interchange will consist of a four-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 construction of the Suame Interchange will be undertaken by M/S Grupo Dizmar of Spain and Rango Construction Ltd, a Ghanaian company. The complementary road component will be undertaken wholly by the Ghanaian firm Rango Construction, supervision of the entire project being the responsibility of the Ministry of Roads and Highways through the Department of Urban Roads.
President Akufo-Addo charged the contractors and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to help ensure that the country gets value for money, as well as ensure strict adherence to completion dates.
Ashanti Region roads
The president said that apart from the Suame Interchange, the 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 295 kilometres 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.
President Akufo-Addo also said that his government has completed the construction of 100 kilometres of local roads in Kumasi. The job was undertaken by M/S Contracta, with the beneficiary assemblies being Kumasi Metropolitan, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Oforikrom, Suame and Tafo Pakrono.
In addition to the 100 kilometres of local roads, the Department of Urban Roads has completed another 75 kilometres 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 68 kilometres of selected feeder roads in the Ashanti and Western Regions, a project which was undertaken by M/S Sinohydro Corporation,” the president said.
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 (3.5 kilometres) and the lining of the Sissai Stream for two kilometres.
“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,” he said.
The construction of the Kumasi Inner City Roads, which involves the rehabilitation of another 100 kilometres of local roads in Kumasi by M/S Sinohydro Ltd is ongoing, together with the emergency rehabilitation of the 12-kilometre Atimatim-Maase-Aboabogya road.
Additionally, there is the upgrading of the 49-kilometre Asankare-Krofa-Juansa Road and Krofa-Brantuokrom-Magyeda road, as well the upgrading of the 40.3-kilometre Amantema Junction-Wiawso-Senkye Road, and the reconstruction of the 30-kilometre Anwiankwanta-Obuasi Road, which is 90% complete, and will be completed by the end of 2022.
President Akufo-Addo reported that the upgrading of the 31-kilometre Dechemuoso area roads and asphaltic overlay of hilltop roads, which is 57% complete, is also ongoing, together with the upgrading of the 8.7-kilometre Kwapia-Wioso feeder road, which stands at 52% complete.
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