GOVT TO OUTDOOR INFRASTRUCTURE WORKPLAN

Government will soon outdoor a comprehensive work plan to outline how it intends to fix Ghana’s broken infrastructure across the country.

The workplan, according to government sources, will be outdoored after the 2019 budget statement and economic policy of government, which will be presented to Parliament on November 15, 2018.

“A lot of work has been ongoing and government in line with the desire to better engage with citizens will outdoor the workplan so key stakeholders are kept abreast of the progress of work as well as the key projects being executed,” a government source told THE PUBLISHER.

The Akufo-Addo led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has promised to undertake massive infrastructure projects next year following the parliamentary approval of a $2-billion Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA) between the government and Sino-hydro Corporation Limited of China for the construction of priority infrastructure projects in Ghana.

The MPSA is essentially a barter facility under which Sino-hydro will implement various contracts for Ghana and the state will repay with refined bauxite (alumina/aluminium).

With this agreement, government is eager to improve the road infrastructure for enhanced intra-urban, regional and national road traffic flow and pursue rural electrification, affordable housing and fishing landing sites.

It will also strengthen economic and regional integration and reduce the cost of doing business in the country.

Under phase one of the agreement, which is about $500 million, critical infrastructure especially roads would be constructed across the country.

While phase two, which is $1.5 billion goes beyond road projects and comprises hospitals, bridges, affordable housing, rural electrification and fish landing sites which cut across Ghana.

Government officials have explained that under the current agreement, 30 percent of the work will be reserved for local sub-contractors.

According to them, all the roads captured under the Sino-hydro facility have been carefully selected and have clear national representation, adding that, every part of Ghana had been captured under the facility.

Among the projects to be executed are Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodi-Pepesu road, Accra inner-city roads, Kumasi inner-city roads, Tamale interchange project and PTC roundabout interchange project, Takoradi.

The rest are Western and Cape Coast inner-city roads, the rehabilitation of New Abirem to Ofoasekuma road as well as upgrading of selected feeder roads in Ashanti and Western regions.

The specific roads expected to be constructed under the first phase of the project in Ashanti region include Ahnwia Nkwanta-Obuasi, Nyinahene-Kyekyewere, Nyinahene Awisesu, Manhyia Sub-Metro, Suame Sub-Metro, Tafo Pankrono Sub-Metro, Kwadaso Sub-Metro and Mampong inner city roads

The roads in Brong Ahafo region include Atebubu-Kwame Danso-Kojokrom, Sunyani Inner Ring Road while those the Eastern region include New Abirem-Ofoase-Akim Oda and Kessekrom

In the Western region, Adiembra, Awakrom-Amisano (Ekumfi), PTC Interchange, Takoradi; and Elubo -Enchi-Kramokrom-Akotombra roads will be constructed.

The rest are the Dwenase-Nsuonua-Anglo-Kwabenakwa road, Prestea inner city roads, Twifo Praso-Esikuma-Dunkwa on Offin, Tamale Interchange, Wulugu-Kpasenpke-Wa roads, Akotokyir road, Cape Coast Polytechnic road, Apawusika road and links, Jasikan-Dodo-Peppesu-Nkwanta roads and Bunkpurugu-Nalerigu road.

Other major roads to be tackled in Accra will include the Taifa-Burkina- Nkatia Burger-Dome Kwabenya Mosque, Christo Asafo area road -Taifa, Fan Milk area road-Anyaa, Adugyamfi road in Anyaa, Omanjo to Olebu road, Abaase road to Ablekuma, Adentan-Dodowa road (dualisation) and Ofanko Hospital Link road.