Government has expressed the need to embark on community roads programme in the country to increase productivity and facilitate the transportation of food crops.
Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, presenting the mid-year budget in parliament today, July 31, 2023, revealed that government remains committed to improving road infrastructure in line with the fiscal consolidation plan in the IMF-backed PC-PEG and in partnership with the private sector.
“Government will embark on a community roads improvement programme to increase productivity and facilitate the transportation of food crops. Districts Assemblies will be given complementary equipment to ensure that their local roads are motorable throughout the year.”
Ken Ofori -Atta
Mr Ofori-Atta stated that the Road Sector’s Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme for the financing, construction and management of road infrastructure has two projects at different stages of preparation. He stated that the Phase 1 of the Accra-Tema Motorway Extension Project (31.7km) involves the reconstruction of the Motorway.
With this, he explained that the Concession Agreement and draft Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement have been finalized and will be laid in the House.
“The Development of Tema Arterial Roads will be structured on a PPP basis using the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. The appraisal of the project is ongoing… These notwithstanding, government remains committed to improving road infrastructure in line with the fiscal consolidation plan in the IMF-backed PC-PEG and in partnership with the private sector.”
Ken Ofori -Atta
Road projects at various levels of completion
Moreover, Mr Ofori-Atta highlighted that to improve mobility and accessibility, as well as safety along major trunk roads, some road projects are at various stages of completion. He revealed that works on the 31.2km Assin Fosu-Assin Praso portion of the National Trunk Road N8 (Phase 2) was completed and commissioned in June 2023 and the Accra-Tema Beach Road (Lot 1 and Lot 2) is 79% and 89% complete respectively.
Additionally, he noted that the construction of a 3-tier interchange at Nungua Barrier is ongoing, while development works on the Kumasi Lake Road and Drainage Extension project is 98% complete.
“Selected Roads in Sekondi and Takoradi Phase 1 – is 21 percent complete; Tema-Aflao road – is 30 percent complete; Nsawam-Ofankor road – is 26 percent complete; Reconstruction of Bechem-Techimantia-Akomadan road – is 64 percent complete; Reconstruction of Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa road – is 34 percent complete.”
Ken Ofori -Atta
Furthermore, the finance minister stated that phase 2 of the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle Interchange and other ancillary works is 86 percent complete as at June 2023. Also, he noted that construction of a 4-tier interchange at Suame in the Ashanti Region has commenced.
“Construction of 50 prefabricated bridges in all sixteen regions continued in 2023 and are 86 percent complete as at end June; Design, fabrication and delivery of steel panel bridges – is ongoing, with bridges delivered; and New bridge under construction at Twifo Praso to separate vehicular traffic from the railway line – is 93 percent complete.”
Ken Ofori -Atta
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta revealed that civil works on Phase 1 of the Anomabo Fisheries College project is complete and enrolment and training of students will commence by the end of the year. He stated that as part of efforts to prevent diversion and hoarding of premix fuel which results in acute shortages, 37 out of a target of 50 premix automated vending machines were installed in various landing beaches at Elmina, Chorkor and Nungua among others.
“Government will install the remaining 13 automated vending machines by end of the year at various landing beaches across the country. Government has also piloted the use of electronic monitoring systems on trawlers to help check illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
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