Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The Government of Ghana is set to access the first tranche of the $2 billion Sinohydro infrastructure-for-bauxite facility.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who made this known to journalists yesterday in Accra during the Information Ministry’s bi-weekly press briefings, said “Ghana is ready to access the first tranche of the $2billion Sinohydro Infrastructure- for-bauxite facility.”
According to him, “After initial hurdles were successfully managed, Ghana is ready to tap into the first tranche of the agreement which is worth $649 million.”
He told journalists that Parliament’s Finance committee was scheduled to meet on the agreements at 2pm yesterday after which the committee’s report would be presented to the plenary hopefully before the end of this month to pave way for construction work to begin.
Projects
The Master Project Support Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Sinohydro of China was reached in 2017.
It was subsequently approved by Parliament and two sets of contracts have been laid before the Parliament, according to the minister.
The two contracts, he said, were the “Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contracts and the Deferred Payment Agreements (DPA).
Under the first tranche, he said, a number of roads had been earmarked for construction.
List of Roads
According to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, under phase one of the Sinohydro deal, 84 kilometre Accra inner city roads, 100km Kumasi inner city roads, Tamale Interchange project, PTC Roundabout Interchange Project in Takoradi and 14km Adenta-Dodowa dual carriageway would be undertaken.
Other projects include 39km Sunyani inner city roads, 32.19km Western Region and Cape Coast inner city roads, upgrading of selected feeder roads in Ashanti and Western Regions, rehabilitation of a 38km Oda-Ofoase-Abirem Road, construction of a 66.40km Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodo-Papasu Road, totaling 441.59 kilometres.
For the Accra inner city roads, Ga North – Trobu is expected to get 19.03km, a 23.7km road for Ga Central–Anyaa Sowutoum, Ga East-Dome Kwabenya, 21.70km, Ledzokuku–Teshie 11.3km, Nanakrom–Santo 8.0km.
Beneficiaries of the Kumasi inner city roads include Manyhia sub-Metro, which will get 11km road, Suame sub-Metro, 9.45km, Tafo-Pankrono sub-Metro, 9.79km; Asokwa sub-Metro, 9.91km; Kwadaso sub-Metro, 6.29km; Oforikrom sub-Metro 7.43km; Subin sub-Metro, 8.98km; Nhyiaeso sub-Metro 7.00km; Bantama sub-Metro, 10.00km; Asante Mampong, 20.15km.
In Cape Coast, three roads at Akotokyir, six roads in Amamoma area, seven roads at Abura New Community and three roads near the Polytechnic Area would be constructed.
For the Western Region, there is going to be the construction of Apawusika Road and links; a 10.19km road for Prestea.
Some selected feeder roads in the Ashanti and Western Regions, according to the Minister, include a 7.2km Achiase- Wansamere – Awisasu junction.
Feeder roads; 4km Mpasatia-Town roads; 4.5km Nyinahin-Adupri feeder road; Nyinahin – Sereso, Timpon–Achiase junction feeder road, 29.7km; 4.1km Nyinahin town roads; 1.5km Nyinahin Market junction -Pentecost Church feeder road; 14km Nyinahin-Kyekyewere feeder road; 3km Kessekrom-Adiembra feeder road.
Massive Development
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has opposed the $2 billion Sinohydro facility, which is expected to massively boost infrastructure development across Ghana, misleadingly describing it as a loan facility instead of barter arrangement.
By Melvin Tarlue