The Ashanti Region Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has said there is no way the government would be able to complete the Suame Interchange before the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on GhanAkoma evening political show on Akoma FM in Kumasi, Mr Osei-Mensah, however, urged the people in the Region not to politicise the project.
He added that the most important thing is that “all the complementary roads linked to the project will be completed before 2024 general elections”.
In October, 2022, President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of the Suame Interchange in Kumasi with the declaration that the government is working assiduously to improve urban mobility in the city and the Ashanti Region at large.
The Suame Interchange project includes a four-tier interchange with overpasses at Abrepo, Krofrom, Anomangye, Magazine New Road and Abusuakruwa Junction all in the Suame Constituency.
Five months since the sod-cutting, work is yet to start on the project.
The Ashanti Regional Minister in the interview with host Kofi Asante Ennin was of the view that the entire project cannot be completed before the 2024 general elections.
He said the project has 36 months to complete and they will work within the scheduled time.
He blamed the delay of the project on relocation of utility lines in the area, siting of camp for the construction firm and also delay in the release of funds for the project.
“Frankly speaking, I will not say all the major components on the Suame Interchange could be completed before the 2024 general elections in Ghana,” he said.
“However, it makes sense to say that the complementary roads would be finished before the 2024 general elections.”
He called on the people of the Region to bear with the government to help address with the initial challenges facing the project.
He assured that work on the project would resume soon since most of the challenges have been addressed by the construction firm and the government.
