Suame Interchange Project Costs $193M – Ing Atta Poku
According to the Resident Engineer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Ing Bendict Atta Poku, the entire Suame Interchange project, which has commenced with the construction of auxiliary roads will cost US$193,277,600.
He said that local road construction will cost US$40 million while the Interchange itself will cost €140 million.
He made the revelation when he led Messrs Associated Consultants Limited (ACON), the project consultants and Rango Construction Company Limited, the contractors to deliver an update on the project to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The meeting took place at the Manhyia Palace on March 13, 2024.
Ing Atta Poku indicated that the amount may vary depending on a number of conditions.
“Local roads cost US$ 40 million and the interchange will cost € 140 million. Variations may come but per the current contract, this is the cost.”
Underscoring the need for the construction of auxiliary roads in the construction of an interchange, Ing Atta Poku said, “Local roads are important when it comes to constructing interchanges. Constructing the interchange without recourse to the local roads will cause traffic and hamper pedestrians’ mobility.”
Currently, he said works on the roads at Maakro and Anomangye are progressing steadily alongside the relocation of underground utility facilities.
“What we are doing is utility relocation. This is to make sure that water and electricity wires underground would be safely relocated to forestall damage. The majority of this work is done.
“Meanwhile the local roads are also steadily progressing. We plan to raise over-passes so as to stall traffic and mobility challenges for pedestrians. When all that is completed, we will begin the main interchange.”
The Suame Interchange Project is one of the five interchanges promised by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
In July 2022, the Parliament of Ghana approved a syndicated loan of seven hundred and fifty million United States dollars ($750m) from the African Export-Import Bank for eleven projects including the Suame Interchange.
$47 million was allocated to the Suame interchange and the Local Road Network project.
In October 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of a four-tier interchange but it was not until many months later that the work on auxiliary roads began.
The government had promised to construct five interchanges at Oforikrom, Bekwai, Ahodwo, Suame and Santasi. However, at a meeting with the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in December 2022, the Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah said only two of the five are assured pinpointing the Suame interchange as well as Santasi Interchange.
The Suame interchange was expected to have five overpasses at Krofrom, Abrepo, Anomanye, Magazine New Road and Abusuakruwa junctions.
