Former Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has called on the government to restore the original 40-year design of the Suame Interchange project, describing any downsizing or alteration as technically indefensible, economically unwise, and politically unjust.
Addressing the media in Parliament, Asenso-Boakye criticized what he described as deliberate attempts by the current administration to abandon or repackage major infrastructure projects initiated under the previous administration in favor of projects it can claim ownership of.
“If this is about labeling projects as belonging to one government or another, it is not political opponents who will suffer the consequences, but the people,” he said.
The former minister stressed that Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, plays a critical role in the country’s transportation and commercial network and therefore deserves infrastructure that reflects its national importance.
He noted that the city serves as a major transit hub and continues to experience rapid population growth and increased vehicle ownership, placing enormous pressure on its road infrastructure.
According to Asenso-Boakye, scaling down a project such as the Suame Interchange undermines its long-term purpose and fails to address the city’s growing transportation needs.
“The Suame Interchange was conceived as a long-term solution, not a short-term compromise,” he said.
He argued that short-changing Kumasi on a project of this scale cannot be justified by what he termed “selective constraints,” adding that such decisions would have lasting negative consequences for traffic management and economic activity in the Ashanti Region.
On behalf of the Ashanti Caucus in Parliament, Asenso-Boakye called on the government to restore the original design and ensure that a single, competent contractor is prioritized to complete the project as initially planned.
He also urged the government to engage Parliament and the people of Kumasi and the wider Ashanti Region with full transparency regarding the future of the project.
“Kumasi deserves infrastructure that reflects its national importance, not compromised solutions justified by selective constraints,” he said.
Asenso-Boakye concluded by thanking the public and reiterating his commitment to advocating for infrastructure development that meets the long-term needs of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
