Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has assured the public that the government is working to resolve financial and logistical challenges to ensure the timely completion of the Suame Interchange and other critical infrastructure projects.
The project has faced significant delays due to inadequate funding, difficulties in relocating Ghana Water Company pipelines, and outstanding compensation payments to affected individuals.
Currently, contractors are advancing phase two of the project, which includes the construction of three overpasses and the widening of a 3.1-kilometre road. An additional 15 kilometres of local roads are near completion.
Work on the three overpasses at Anomangye, Suame New Road, and Abusuakruwa is ongoing, with contractors aiming to complete them within the next two months.
However, phase one, which includes the main four-tier Suame Interchange, is only 13 per cent complete, but One of the major obstacles hindering progress is the relocation of pipelines belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited.
During a site visit, the Director of the Department of Urban Roads, James Amoo-Gottfried, provided an update on the project’s status and appealed for government intervention to address the financial and technical setbacks.
“The challenge they are facing is the Ghana Water pipe within the roundabout. They have been able to do some piling there, but there are still outstanding issues, and they are in discussion with Ghana Water to see how best that can be done. We hope that we can complete that and open it as soon as possible.” he noted.
Agbodza reaffirmed the government’s commitment to overcoming these challenges, ensuring that work progresses efficiently to meet the project’s completion timeline.
“What we know is that the money that has been reallocated cannot complete all the phases. But we thank the contractor. Phase two is largely done, as the engineer has said, we are now left with phase one, which is the critical part.
“Now that we do not have the full complement of the bridge, President Mahama’s goal is to ensure that wherever we can find resources to complete critical projects like this, we do so.
“So now that I have seen this, I will brief him to discuss the way forward in terms of how we can complete this.” he assured.