The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, has defended the government’s decision to modify the Suame Interchange project from a four-tier to a three-tier design, describing the move as a cost-effective solution that will comprehensively address traffic congestion in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Hon. Agbodza explained that the redesign, together with the construction of the proposed Kumasi Outer Ring Road, will provide better value for money while delivering long-term relief to motorists.
According to the Minister, the Kumasi Outer Ring Road will begin at Atia Junction near Boankra and pass through Juaben, Kasaam, Tano Odumasi, and Ahodwo before connecting to Akom on the N10 highway.
He noted that the new route will create a more efficient link between the N10 at Akom and the N6 at Boankra, significantly cutting travel time for vehicles traveling between the northern and southern parts of the country.
“This route offers a more efficient connection between the N10 at Akom and the N6 at Boankra, significantly reducing travel time for vehicles moving between the northern and southern sectors of the country,” the Minister stated.
Hon. Agbodza’s remarks come in response to criticism from Hon. Asenso Boakye, who described the design change as a “disservice to Kumasi and Ghana.”
The Roads Minister rejected the claim, insisting that the combined impact of the three-tier interchange and the Outer Ring Road would better serve the city’s growing transportation needs.
He explained that the Outer Ring Road would divert the bulk of north-bound traffic away from the city centre, thereby reducing the traffic load on the Suame Interchange and eliminating the need for the higher-capacity four-tier design.
“The construction of the Kumasi Outer Ring Road will divert the majority of north-bound traffic away from the city centre. As a result, the Suame area will require less capacity than was initially projected,” he clarified.
Beyond traffic considerations, the Minister cited significant financial and logistical challenges associated with the original four-tier plan.
He revealed that several properties not captured in the initial project budget would have been affected, leading to substantial compensation costs. These include two-storey commercial buildings along Suame Road, the Suame Police Station, and parts of the Kumasi Mall.
Additionally, he highlighted the complexity of relocating essential utilities along the proposed fourth-tier alignment, particularly at the Krofrom and Abrepo intersections.
These utilities include major water and electricity lines.
“A conservative estimate suggests that the compensation and relocations would cost more than 50 percent of the total construction cost of the original four-tier design,” he stated.
On financing, Hon. Agbodza acknowledged that the project faced funding challenges following Ghana’s debt default and subsequent engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He disclosed that President John Mahama has since approved the inclusion of the Suame Interchange in the government’s “Big Push” Programme to guarantee its completion.
Reaffirming government’s commitment to infrastructure development in Kumasi, the Minister noted that other ongoing projects include the completion of the Inner Ring Road from Asokwa to Sofoline, as well as the Ahodwo Roundabout to Daban section of the Melcom Road.
“As the nation’s second-largest city, Kumasi deserves the best infrastructure,” Hon. Agbodza assured.
The Suame Interchange project is widely regarded as a critical intervention to decongest one of Kumasi’s busiest commercial and industrial hubs, and the government maintains that the revised design will deliver both efficiency and fiscal prudence.
