The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has sharply rebuked his predecessor, Francis Asenso-Boakye, over delays in the Suame Interchange project in Kumasi, accusing the former minister and the previous government of failing the people of the Ashanti Region.
According to Mr Agbodza, the ongoing debate over the modification of the interchange would not have arisen if the project had been completed by 2024 as promised by the NPP government.
“You failed the people of the Ashanti Region,” Mr Agbodza said in a statement responding to criticisms from Mr Asenso-Boakye regarding the redesign of the interchange.
“If the project had been completed by 2024, as was promised, we wouldn’t be talking about this critical project today.”
The Roads Minister explained that the current redesign, which effectively removes the fourth-tier bridge of the original four-tier plan, was a practical decision in response to new road developments in the Kumasi metropolis.
He said the construction of the Kumasi Outer Ring Road under the Big Push Programme has significantly changed traffic patterns, reducing the demand for a four-tier interchange at Suame.
“Construction of the Kumasi Outer Ring Road will divert most of the traffic up north from the city centre. Suame will therefore require less capacity than previously projected,” he stated.
Mr Agbodza further argued that the previous administration left behind significant challenges, including incomplete expropriation of properties, compensation issues, and funding gaps that made the original plan financially unsustainable.
“The fourth-tier bridge would have affected two-storey commercial buildings, the Suame Police Station, and portions of the Garden City Mall land, with estimated costs exceeding 50 per cent of the construction budget,” he said.
He urged the Minority to focus on solutions rather than politicising the project.
“We are making decisions based on current realities and value for money. Kumasi deserves the best, and this modification, together with the outer ring road and other complementary works, will deliver a modern, efficient road network for the Ashanti Region,” Mr Agbodza concluded.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
