On Friday, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace to officially inform the King of the government’s plan to construct an expressway from Accra to Kumasi, which will reduce travel time by about 50 kilometres. He told the Asantehene that it will begin next week (which is this week).
The entire project is 198.7 km, of which 80 km falls within the Ashanti Region.
He used the opportunity to explain vividly to the understanding of the Asantehene the motivation behind the reduction of the Suame Interchange project from a four-tier interchange to a three-tier, he explained that an intended bypass construction around Kumasi would make the four-tier disproportionate.
According to the Minister, currently, everyone coming to Kumasi or going beyond Kumasi needs to drive through Suame Interchange, that is the Suame Roundabout. That was why the design was made in four tiers. Currently one of the major projects the current government wants to do is a bypass or a loop around Kumasi. Every major city in the world has a ring road or what is called an orbiter and that is what they want to do around Kumasi which is over 100km.
The idea is to give travellers who don’t have anything to do at the centre of Kumasi, you can hit the orbiter and go round it and enter your destination. As a result, a bypass is going to be constructed from Ejisu through Juaben to Tano Dumase through Kwabre and the Offinso stretch. He said, the contractor is working and it’s about 47km. The expectation is that when completed, those going beyond Kumasi will not need to come and crowd at the Suame Interchange.
The Minister went on to say that, not a penny will be taken from the Suame Interchange project, all savings made on the reduction will be invested into the Suame-Tafo-Mampong road which is not yet under contract. “Its a very critical road. Whatever we have been allocated for that project will be spent here. We are spending another three billion on the orbiter. Our engineers are working on the design of the bypass.” he said.
Mr Agbodza announced to the King that the government had paid $25 million to clear debt owed to the contractor. This, he said, paves the way for him to return on site to continue the Suame project which has been incorporated into the flagship Big Push project. “We expect the contractor to be fully mobilised on site to be able to complete in 2027.”
In his submission, the Minister for Roads, Governs Kwame Agbodza, said the Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a flagship project under the government’s Big Bush Infrastructure Programme and aims to improve connectivity between Accra and Kumasi and reduce travel time along the corridor.
He noted that the idea of an expressway is to provide an alternative drive route for commuters in the form of a freeway and reduce the travel period to two hours. He assured Otumfuo that the proposed project would not affect the ongoing dualisation project. According to him, budgetary allocation has been planned to keep the work in progress.
The Roads Minister added that the government intends to compensate farmers who will be affected by the proposed projects.
Asantehene’s Response
Otumfuo welcomed the mission as positive news, particularly about plans to complete the existing dual Accra-Kumasi road as well as the proposed
expressway. “All these projects are geared towards national development,” Otumfuo said.
However, His Majesty demanded that the schedule for completion of the proposed project be strictly followed for timely completion.
“Expedite works to complete it on time. If the clearance is completed on time, the main work could start in June for completion on time. You intended to complete it in 2027 but I extend it to 2028 for you. I want it completed and commissioned so that I will drive through it.”
Otumfuo however urged the Minister for Roads and Highways to provide the needed road infrastructure to make the inoperative Sewua Hospital functional.
His Majesty recognises that the poor road network is principal among the limitations rendering the facility non-functional. He called on the Minister to grant the needed attention as soon as possible to make the facility usable.
Otumfuo blessed the Road Minister, whose mother is from Ejisu and assured him of his support. End!
Major credit to Opemsuo Radio
