The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned contractors and stakeholders involved in the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project that quality, value for money and timely delivery will not be compromised.
He urged that the 198.7-kilometre expressway be delivered to international standards and managed as a long-term national asset capable of supporting economic growth.
Speaking at a handover ceremony of a 175.6-kilometre right-of-way cleared by the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday, September 14, Agbodza said the expressway is a major part of government’s strategy to address growing pressure on the Accra-Kumasi corridor.
“For decades, Accra-Kumasi corridor has carried the disproportionate share of the national traffic. Growth in population, freight and commercial activity has placed increasing pressure on the existing N6,” he said.
He noted that the solution goes beyond continuous repairs and incremental widening of the existing road, stressing the need for a modern network that separates through traffic from local traffic and provides businesses with a more predictable logistics environment.
According to the Minister, the procurement process is being advanced through international competitive pre-qualification to attract technically capable and financially strong firms with proven experience in projects of the scale and complexity of the expressway.
“The process must be competitive, transparent and rigorous. Ghana must obtain quality, value for money and timely delivery. These principles are non-negotiable,” he stated.
This follows progress in the preparatory work for the project, with the Ghana Armed Forces clearing 175.6 kilometres of the right-of-way in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the scheduled 20-week timeline.
The minister said the project is also expected to create opportunities for Ghanaian engineers, contractors, consultants, suppliers, artisans and young professionals through local participation, skills transfer and technology transfer.
He further stressed that the expressway must connect effectively with the wider road network, including the emerging Kumasi Outer Ring Road, to maximise its impact on transportation and economic activity.
Leave a Comment