President John Mahama has reassured the chiefs and people of the Ashanti Region of his government’s commitment to complete all abandoned and uncompleted projects in the region by the end of his tenure in 2029.
“I have (resolved) that no viable project will be abandoned under this administration. Regardless of who started it, we shall continue and complete it. We are a government of continuity and results,” President Mahama stated.
He gave this assurance in Kumasi on Wednesday on his ‘Thank You’ visit to the region following his emphatic victory at the 2024 presidential election.
The assurance of the President is in line with his pre-election campaign to complete all abandoned projects across the country.
The projects targeted for completion in the Ashanti Region the President itemised, included the Kejetia market phase II, Krofrom and Mamponteng markets, the Suame interchange, the Afari military and Sewua regional hospitals.
The rest are the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital maternity block, rehabilitation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology medical centre.
The government, President Mahama said was moving boldly with its ‘Big Push’ agenda to bridge the US$1.5 billion annual infrastructure gap as estimated by the World Bank.
To this end, the President said the US$10 billion big push initiative to be spread across five years at a rate of US$2 billion a year would prioritise strategic infrastructure to unlock the productivity of the region and the country as a whole.
“Under the big push, we are going to commence the construction of what we call the greater Kumasi by-pass. The first quadrant of this by-pass will go through Ejisu and link the Mampong and Techiman roads.
“It means that all the big articulator trucks that are heading to Burkina Faso and Mali will no longer come through Kumasi city. They’ll turn right at Ejisu and appear on the Techiman road. This will help decongest the city, promote safer travel and restore Kumasi’s urban integrity,” he explained to applause.
According to President Mahama, the government had also earmarked the construction of roads in the Tepa, Manso, and Adansi areas.
In the aviation sector, he revealed that contract had been awarded and contractor mobilising to site for the extension of the runway of the Prempeh International Airport to allow larger aircraft to land and enhance Kumasi’s global connectivity to make it a gateway to international travel, investment and tourism.
The Accra-Kumasi expressway, President Mahama said was on course with feasibility and design works in progress and sod scheduled to be cut early next year for actual construction to begin.
“Don’t confuse the Accra-Kumasi expressway to the Accra-Kumasi dualisation project. They are two separate projects. The express way is three lanes on each side and will cut the travel distance by 50 kilometres. It will enhance logistical movement and strengthen national integration.
“The expressway will have rest stops, filling stations and all facilities for a safe travel between Accra and Kumasi. We will toll the express way so that the money that will be generated will go to pay the cost of construction,” President Mahama explained.
He commended the region, traditionally known as the strong hold of the opposition, for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of fair distribution of the state resources and asked that they supported his government to deliver on its mandate
FROM JULIUS YAO PETETSI, KUMASI