Parliament has approved a €150 million “design and build” contract agreement between Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Roads and Highways) and Messrs QGMI Contrucciones E Infraestructuras Globales (QGMI) and RANGO Construction Company Limited (RCCL) for the construction of the Peduase-Mamfe-Koforidua scenic route project.
The Peduase-Mamfe-Koforidua road project is aligned with Ghana’s Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies spanning from 2017 to 2024, and it is under the jobs and prosperity agenda, which seeks to address trade facilitation and market access in the country.
The agreement was presented to Parliament by the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of the Minister for Roads and Highways on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.
Background
The Government of Ghana recognises the importance of road transport in facilitating socio-economic development of the country.
It is in this regard that the National Transport Policy of the Ministry of Roads and Highways seeks to create an integrated, efficient, cost effective and sustainable transport system responsive to the needs of society, supporting growth and poverty reduction.
President Akufo-Addo in the 2020 State of the Nation address declared the year 2020 as the Year of Roads as a means of realising the said vision.
This is further elaborated in Government’s Medium Term National Development Policy Framework (2018 – 2021) and Roads Sector Medium Term Development Plan which seeks to develop road infrastructure to enhance trade opportunities for Ghana as well as increase the competitiveness of Tema and Takoradi Ports, whilst reducing trade barriers along the international road transit corridors in Ghana.
The ministry through its assessment of the impacts of road infrastructure has identified that road projects align with Ghana’s 10 Point Industrialisation Agenda, particularly the One-District-One-Factory (IDIF) initiative.
It is expected to engender significant private sector participation in agriculture related activities anchored around roads as a strategic and catalytic sector investment and business development through Rural Enterprises Programme (REP).
The Project
The Peduase-Mamfe-Koforidua road forms part of the National route N4 which starts in the Greater Accra Region, at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra, over the National route N1 and ends in the intersection with the National route N6, at Bunso, Eastern Region.
The road is strategically relevant not only to improve the connection between Mamfe and Koforidua, but also enhance their access to the capital Accra, the Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport, Kennedy Osei Nyarko stated.
He said presently, the road presents difficult conditions of circulation which results in time consuming trips and provides poor quality of transport service.
The rehabilitation of the connection between Aburi and Koforidua will contribute to improve mobility between those cities as well as the remaining villages located along the section, he read the committee’s report on the floor of Parliament yesterday.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House