Simon Osei Mensah during the tour of Rango Construction site at Kodie on Tuesday
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has stated that the Suame Interchange project in Kumasi is not a scam as everything is almost set for construction works to commence in a few months.
He said hopefully by August, 2023, the designs for the project would be completed for works to start.
He gave the assurance when he made an emergency visit to the camp site of Rango Construction, contractors for the project, at Kodie near Kumasi.
Even though President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the Suame Interchange project on October 2022, he said the actual contract started on February 10, 2023.
According to him, there are reports that the project has delayed but in actual fact the contractors were on track as they were working assiduously behind the scenes.
Mr. Osei Mensah disclosed that there has been some changes in the design for the project, adding that the contractors also had to find a decent camp site to kickstart work.
“Now the camp site for the project has been found by the contractors at Kodie and the drawings for the project, hopefully, would be completed in two months time.
“The height of the overhead has also been increased from 5 meters to 5.5 meters to prevent contact with loaded vehicles, to ensure the longevity of the interchange.
“Also, some of the double lanes would be increased to three lanes and all these have accounted for the late start of the project so the people should bear with us”, he said.
According to the Regional Minister, as part of the Suame Interchange project, about eight local roads would also be constructed in the area for diversion to avert traffic.
“These eight local roads would be constructed by the contractor to help prevent unnecessary vehicular traffic when the main Suame Interchange project starts”
Mr. Osei Mensah also stated emphatically that the project would last for 36 months “so it cannot be completed in December 2024” urging the public to take note.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
Pix saved as Suame Interchange in 2023