Brazilian firm to kickstart €74m Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange project in July
The Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday organized a stakeholder’s forum to outdoor the design and construction works of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange.
The project to be executed through the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) is expected to start in July this year by Queiroz Galvao Construcao, a Brazilian Construction firm and will be completed in 18 months.
Mr Abass Awolu, DUR Acting Director described the perennial congestion of traffic at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle as alarming, explaining that the area serves as a transportation hub in Accra, hence the need to construct the interchange.
The project is being funded jointly by the Governments of Ghana and Brazil and it is estimated to cost 74 million Euros.
Mr Alexandra De Vasconcelos Coutinho, Contract Manager of Queiroz Galvao said the project is designed to befit the status of Accra and was critically studied by the Consultants.
He said traffic flows and safety condition of pedestrians in the area formed part of the background architectural measures used to design the project to ease the traffic congestion for the next 25 years and beyond.
Mr Coutinho said the construction will improve safety measures for both pedestrians and motorist and the status of the area will also be raised and modernized.
Participants at the forum, especially officials of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) raised serious concerns about the project.
Alhaji Baba Imoro Sanda, GPRTU Circle Branch Welfare Chairman said the project, which is in the good interest of all stakeholders, would in the interim interfere with business operation of drivers.
He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that the business activities of drivers, commuters and pedestrians are not unnecessary interrupted without due directional signals and reflective safety belts barricades.
Other participant also raised concerns about compensation for people whose properties would be affected during the construction.
Source: GNA