Business activities within the Tamale Metropolis are poised for a boost following official opening of the Tamale interchange in March.
This was disclosed by the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, when he paid a working visit to the area and stated that completion of the project is imminent. “The contractor has assured me that all work associated with the interchange will be completed by end of February, and that the first two weeks of March will be used to do the finishing touches; and then anytime from mid-March the president will commission the project.”
According to him, this development further highlights the current administration’s commitment to enhancing road infrastructure in the country, with the aim of boosting business activities as well as curbing the rate of road accidents in the country.
The minister, who led some government officials and the media to inspect road projects in the Metropolis, expressed his satisfaction with the rate of progress as well as the quality of work done, which he said is ensuring value for money. He also assured the residents that all other road networks within the region will be worked on.
Mr. Amoako-Atta used the opportunity to broach the subject of the E-levy as he pleaded with residents to support its approval and implementation, which he said will aid the state to generate much needed-revenue to embark on developmental projects and enhance growth of the economy. “Without enough revenue, it will be difficult for government to implement policies and projects meant to curb poverty rates in the country,” he said.
The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Saibu, commended residents for their resilience, patience and cooperation with the engineers and authorities for the project’s duration.
He said the interchange, the first of its kind in the northern parts of the country, will not only improve trade and regional integration because of the proximity to neighboring Burkina Faso, but also improve traffic management in Tamale. “Tamale is noted to be a transit route to the nearby countries. This project could not have come at a better time to boost economic activities in the region,” he remarked.
The Resident Engineer for the Tamale Interchange project, Ing. Emmanuel Degbotse, told journalists that the Tamale interchange project is 95% complete. He said parking spaces and other facilities will be put in place to prevent a build-up of traffic around the interchange.
Some residents who spoke to the B&FT expressed gratitude to stakeholders for the project. They however called for increased monitoring, especially of heavy-duty trucks that are expected to ply the route. Others called for measures to be put in place to prevent traders from taking over the interchange.
The 1.1kilometre stretch interchange project commenced in August 2019, funded under the US$2billion China Synohydro deal. As part of the US$2billion project investment, US$1.5billion was for roads.
