The completion of the first phase of the ‘100 kilometres (km) Rehabilitation and Auxiliary Infrastructure of Kumasi Inner Ring Road and Adjacent Streets Project’ in the Ashanti Region is expected to ease traffic flow and help boost economic activities.
The road project, which started in December 2019, is intended to enhance intra-urban traffic flow, and reduce the incidence of flooding, dust pollution and other negative environmental effects associated with the poor road network, according to the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
According to the Urban Roads Department, the work done has improved accessibility within Kumasi, especially for the beneficiary communities in Asokwa, Bantama, Nhyiaeso, Manhyia, Oforikrom, Kwadaso, Tafo Pankrono, Subin, and Suame.
The end of the first phase now brings the total kilometres of completed roads constructed by the government since 2017 to 1,180.2. This is understood to be more than double the 503.44 kilometres of road constructed in the region between 2009 and 2016.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, said the completion of this project, as well as the many completed and ongoing, demonstrates government’s commitment to improving the road infrastructure across the country.
“The completion of this project is so important to the government since we shall be adding 100km of rehabilitated roads to the network in Kumasi.”
Apart from the roads being commissioned, he noted some other works that government is undertaking in the Ashanti Region through the Road Agencies under the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
“The Department of Urban Roads (DUR) has completed the asphalt overlay of 295km of roads in the Ashanti region since 2017.
Some of the beneficiary areas include Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly – Subin Nhyiaeso and Bantama, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Old Tafo, Asokore Mampong, Bekwai, Ejisu, Juaben, Sekyere East (Effiduase), Asante Mampong, Kwadaso, Obuasi, Suame and Atwima Nwabiagya South,” he stated.
Others include the completion of another 75km of town roads in Ashanti, including Bekwai Town roads (11km); Kwamo Town Roads (5.5km), Manhyia Roads (Buokrom)- 6km and Ejisu/ Kwaso Town Road (7km).
Ongoing works being undertaken under the supervision of the DUR include Partial Reconstruction of Selected Roads in Kumasi Lot1 (57km); the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project (90 percent complete); and the 100km construction of the Kumasi Inner City Roads involving the rehabilitation of another 100km of local roads in Kumasi.
The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has undertaken the rehabilitation and upgrading of 264km of roads since 2017, with the roads either at the primer seal stage or have the full seal on them. In addition, 28km of critical roads are at the Asphaltic binder stage in the region.
Furthermore, the Vice President said the Department of Feeder Roads has completed about 342km of roads since 2017.
Some of the roads completed and tarred include Poano-Ntinnanko Feeder Road (6km); Barekese-Fufuo-Adugyama Feeder Road (10km); Ahenkro-Boamag Feeder Road (11km); Upgrading of Menang Junction-Menang-Dotom Feeder Road (15km); and Bitumen Surfacing of Fiankoma-Hia Feeder Road (14.5km).
He said: “There are currently a lot of road works at various stages of completion in the region, and we intend to ensure that they are all completed,” while announcing that work on phase one of the Suame Interchange is expected to begin by September 2022.
