The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has described the infrastructure record of the Akufo-Addo administration as 'second to none' as compared to the first term of office of opposition NDC under the Fourth Republic.
Speaking at a virtual Government Townhall Meeting and Results Fair showcasing the NPP's infrastructure record in Accra, the Vice President said “The investment in infrastructure by the NPP government over the last three years has been massive. I dare say our investment in infrastructure, our infrastructure record, is second to none for any government in its first term under the Fourth Republic,”
“Notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the completion times of some projects, the data indicates that in the fourth republic, no government has achieved as much in its first term of office in terms of infrastructure projects it initiated its first term as the NPP government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.” he mentioned.
Using a combination of film, tables and data, Dr Bawumia disclosed that over the past 3 and half years, the Akufo-Addo administration has implemented different infrastructure programmes across various sectors in line with the government’s agenda to ensure inclusive and accelerated economic development.
He stressed that the focus has been to provide infrastructure for all.
Dr. Bawumia said “About 17,334 individual projects have been started since January 2017. We have completed a total number of 8746 projects throughout the country. A further 8588 projects are at different stages of completion throughout the country.
“This is consistent with our strategic orientation to ensure the development of broad base, wide scale infrastructure, taking place in every district across the country instead of a few big infrastructure projects in a few cities.” he noted.
Zeroing in on sectoral performance, the Vice President revealed a total of 1927 road projects have been undertaken across the country since 2017. Out of that, 1307 of them are completed while 620 are currently under construction.
He explained government has selected three critical roads in every region.
He said "Work is ongoing on all these critical roads and are at various stages of completion, including the famous Eastern Corridor road, for example Jasikan-Dodo-Pepesu road, Bolga-Bawku (80% complete) and Lawra-Hamile (complete)"
“In the Urban areas, across the country, since the beginning of 2017, we have done 589 km of Asphalt Overlay, rehabilitating and upgrading of 143.61 km of roads, reconstruction of 97.8km and resealing of 48.82 km of roads across the country" the Veep stressed.
He said “Four state of the art interchanges are also under construction: The Tema Interchange, where the loan, sod cutting and completion were executed by this government; Tamale interchange under the Sinohydro Programme, the first ever interchange in the Northern Sector of the country (44% complete and expected to be completed by the middle of 2021); Pokuase interchange (the first four tier interchange in West Africa – 75% complete"
Dr. Bawumia revealed the loan agreement for the (Pokuase interchange) project was signed in November 2016 for a three-tier interchange adding the NPP government subsequently renegotiated for a four-tier interchange without any increase in cost.
“The Obetsebi Lamptey interchange is 55% complete. As well, the Sod has just been cut for the Nungua Interchange. This is the highest number of interchanges (5) being constructed in the first term of any government since independence. A sixth interchange, the PTC interchange in Takoradi (the first interchange in the Western Region) will start in early September.” he said.
“It is important to note that the cost of the Tema, Pokuase, Tamale, and Obetsebi Lamptey interchanges total $289 million while the Kwame Nkrumah interchange was constructed at a cost of $270 million” Dr Bawumia disclosed.
Below are pictures:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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