Accra: The Ashanti Caucus of Parliament has expressed discontent over the government's alleged decision to reduce the scope of the Suame interchange project from a four-tier to a two-tier design, calling it a 'disservice to Kumasi, the Ashanti Region, and Ghana as a whole.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the Suame interchange project was originally conceived as a long-term solution and not a short-term compromise. Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, emphasized this point during an emergency press conference held at Parliament House in Accra. He stated that Kumasi deserves infrastructure that reflects its national importance, rather than solutions justified by selective constraints.
The project, initiated under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration, aims to address severe traffic congestion in Kumasi, which is Ghana's second-largest city. The original design of the project included a four-tier grid-separated interchange, complete with overpasses, underpasses, and road widening to effectively manage the city's traffic issues.
The Ashanti Caucus has raised concerns regarding the government's funding priorities, especially in light of the allocation of GH?43 billion to road infrastructure and the approval of 64 new road projects. They question why a portion of this funding cannot be allocated to complete the Suame interchange project as it was initially designed.
In response to these issues, the Caucus is urging the government to restore the original design of the interchange, reprioritize funding allocation, and engage transparently with both parliament and the public to address these concerns.