Bawumia cuts sod for beginning of Tema motorway interchange project

The Tema motorway roundabout is to receive a major phase lift following the cutting of sod for the construction of an interchange by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in Tema.

Last year, Meridian Port Services as part of its corporate social responsibilities constructed some slipways at the Tema motorway roundabout which reduced traffic congestion at the roundabout to some extent.

Following that, there has been the need for an interchange.

The objective of the project include the improvement of the capacity of the Tema roundabout and its adjoining surroundings to enhance safety and efficiency of transportation and the provision of uninterrupted traffic flow to facilitate trade and transit activities to land locked countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the West Africa sub-region.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said the motorway, was part of the Trans-Africa highway from Lagos through Lome-Accra-Abidjan and to Dakar, with the roundabout serving as the junction to the sub-region.

He expressed government’s commitment to the provision of good roads to achieve rapid development and transform agriculture and industrialise the country.

“This project underlines the importance that the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and the government attaches to the development of the road infrastructure and overall national development. Good roads are undoubtedly prerequisite for rapid socio-economic development of any economy and any community. If you want to transform agriculture industry or your Port services, you need good road linkage,” he said.

Hirofumi Hushi, Chief Representative of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), said the Tema motorway intersection project, would seek to support the Ghanaian vision to develop the Eastern Corridor.

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Tsitsomu Himeno, assured that Japan would remain a reliable partner to Ghana’s development.

Kwasi Amoako Atta, Minister for Roads and Highways, said the Tema intersection project would ease the traffic congestion in the Tema region while serving the Tema Port which is currently undergoing expansion works.

“Let me assure all Ghanaians that this project is not a standalone one. It is going to bring a lot of benefits in two areas. It is going to create one which we call Tema arterial roads and then Accra-Tema motorway project,” he said.

The project which started in February is expected to be completed in 2020.