THE government of Ghana has approved a six-month extension request from the contractor working on the S $84 million four-tier Pokuase Interchange in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra region. This means that the project would be completed towards the end of next year, instead of April 2020, the originally scheduled completion date.
Kwabena Bempong, Associate Vice President of Associated Consultants Limited, a consulting company for the project, made the disclosure in Accra during a tour of the project site. He added that the contractor organised additional shifts and was convinced the project would be completed on schedule.
50 percent complete
Currently, the project is 50 percent complete. The town roads, 6km of adjoining roads from Awoshie to Kwabenya stretch had been asphalted. Streets lights, pedestrian walkways, traffic lights have also been completed while the piles (foundations for the road) and piers (columns which would carry the overhead roads) are nearing completion.
Bempong said the contractor had almost completed the storm drains and embankment along both sides of the Awoshie and Accra-Nsawam stretch to prevent flooding and landslides on the road.
The consultant said the Ministry of Roads and Highways is looking for funds to complete the storm drain on the Sunkwa River at ACP junction to prevent flooding in the communities along the bank of the river.
Full compensation
Bempong further added that the government has released funds for compensation and currently all those who were affected by the project are being paid. ‘The total compensation for the project is estimated at $1.8m,’ he said.
The project has provided employment for more than 400 Ghanaians, particularly people living in and around Pokuase. Bempong also said most of the materials such as iron roads, sand, chippings and cement were sourced locally.