The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has taken a swipe at his predecessor, Francis Asenso-Boakye, over delays in the Suame Interchange project, highlighting what he described as misplaced priorities under the previous administration.
According to Mr Agbodza, the NPP government’s expenditure of over $100 million on the National Cathedral could have financed at least half of the Suame Interchange project in Kumasi.
“Over $100 million was spent on the National Cathedral,” the Roads Minister said, responding to criticisms from Mr Asenso-Boakye regarding the redesign of the interchange.
“With that amount, you could have completed half of the Suame Interchange, which would have saved the people of the Ashanti Region from years of delay and inconvenience.”
Mr Agbodza reiterated that the current redesign of the interchange, which effectively removes the fourth-tier bridge, was a practical solution in light of new road developments, including the Kumasi Outer Ring Road under the Big Push Programme.
“Construction of the outer ring road will divert most of the traffic up north from the city centre. Suame will therefore require less capacity than originally projected,” he explained.
He also cited unfinished expropriation and compensation issues left by the previous administration, which made the original four-tier plan financially and logistically challenging.
“The fourth-tier bridge would have affected multiple commercial properties, the Suame Police Station, and parts of Garden City Mall land, with costs exceeding half of the original construction budget,” Mr Agbodza said.
The Minister urged the Minority to focus on practical solutions rather than politicising infrastructure projects.
“Kumasi deserves the best, and this modification, combined with ongoing complementary road works, will deliver a modern, efficient road network for the city and the Ashanti Region,” he concluded