Parliament has approved the report of the committee on the road and transport on the Commercial Agreement including finance cost in the amount of up to US$646,879.74 between the government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and Sinohydro Corporation Limited for the construction of priority roads infrastructure projects phase I under the Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA).
The loan, when released is expected to finance the following projects: Accra Inner City Roads, Kumasi Inner City Roads, Tamale Interchange Project, PTC Roundabout Interchange-Takoradi and Adenta-Dodowa Dual Carriageway.
The rest are Sunyani Inner City Roads, Western Region and Cape Coast Inner City Roads, upgrading of selected Feeder Roads in Ashanti and Western Regions, rehabilitation of Oda-Ofoase Road and Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodi Pepesu Road.
The object of the project is to enhance intra-urban, Regional and National traffic flow, trade and strengthen regional economic integration and also to reduce the cost of doing business in The Country.
Meanwhile, the Minority has raised concerns about the cost and called on the Minister and Government to withdraw the agreement and amend it for values for money, and to include in the agreement, local content meant 30% of the contract given to the Ghanaian contractors or using 30% of the supply of goods and service from Ghana, but their suggestions were ignored.
Defending the agreement, the Sector Minister, Kwesi Amoako Atta said, “a good road infrastructure is a critical facilitator for the rapid socio-economic development of The Country and Government recognizes its importance.”
According to him, “through the improvement of access, travel times are reduced, congestion on the roads, lightened, vehicle operating cost, reduced and so the cost of doing business.”
Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah
