Motorway Expansion Takes off -This month

In line with President John Dramani Mahama’s changing lives, transforming Ghana flagship policy, major expansion works to convert the Tema-Accra motorway into a six-lane expanded highway will commence this month.

The expansion works, which is the first of its kind since the road was opened to traffic in 1965, falls under the Tema Port expansion project being undertaken by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and will feature a complete re-engineering of the 19.2 kilometre stretch of road from the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout in Accra to the Tema Harbour.

The project, estimated to cost $1.5 billion, when completed will become the largest cargo port in West Africa, with a capacity of 3.5 million 20-foot container equivalent unit (TEU) per annum.

The Accra-Tema motorway is a 19km 2-lane dual-carriageway with cement-concrete surfacing, and 2m bituminous surface dressed shoulders. The motorway forms an integral part of the National Route 1(N1) starting from Aflao (in the Volta Region) and ending at Elubo (in the Western Region). It is also part of the Trans West African Highway (Abidjan-Lagos Corridor).

The works will entail stripping off and replacing the existing concrete material of the entire length of the road. It will also include the construction of interchanges to accommodate the link roads from Trassaco Valley, the Accra Abattoir territory, Sakumono, Nungua and Ashaiman

Announcing the Mahama government’s intention to commence work on the project, Minister of Roads and Highways, Inusah Fuseini, told Accra based Onua Fm the postponement of works on the project from March to April this month was necessitated by the thorough study by the contractor to ensure durability of the road and value for money.

“We would have started this work before March ended as promised but we are also concerned about value for money. There are intensive feasibility works on going, but I can assure you that work on Accra-Tema motorway expansion project will start this month, I mean April,” he disclosed.

The Minister, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, stated that the Accra-Tema motorway expansion project is among projects dear to the heart of President John Mahama, adding that he and the President are having sleepless night over it.

“I know Ghanaians want that project complete as in yesterday, same way we also want it but we are considering value for money,” he noted.

He explained that “we (government) are redesigning both Tema roundabout and the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout in order to allow free flow of traffic. That road contributes largely to our economy and every government will make it convenient to ply” the road minister said

The Tema-Accra motorway expansion work is among the numerous far-reaching infrastructure projects being undertaken by the John Dramani Mahama government to bring respite to the citizenry.

The Mahama government has so far managed to fast tracked the construction and/or completion of many projects among them; the Cape Coast stadium, the Kotokoraba market, Kommenda sugar factory, water processing plant in the Eastern region, Teshie desalination project , the Kumasi shoe factory and the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in the Western region.

Others include the completion or construction of numerous schools buildings including, the new 200 community day Senior High Schools, various road projects nationwide, the Tamale International airport, the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, the Awoshie -Pokuase road, the 600 bed Legon hospital, Tamale Teaching hospital, University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, Ridge and Police hospital expansions.

The rest include a Helipad for the military hospital, acquisition of two new jets for the military, expansion works at Brong Ahafo and Volta universities and the proposed university for the Eastern region, Cars for the various regional house of chiefs, equipping the national fire service with over 120 fire tenders, 4000 houses for civil servants nation-wide, Takoradi harbor expansion, Mampong water supply and Rural electrification across the country, commissioning of a €38m fibre optic infrastructure, among other impressive projects among others.