By Seth Danquah
Takoradi, Oct. 21, GNA – Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, has debunked claims that iron rods used for the construction of the Takoradi PTC Interchange are being dismantled due to contractual breaches between government and the Chinese contractors.
He said contrary to these reports, the scaffolds that were mounted for concrete works on the flyover were being removed, to pave way for the contractor to begin work on the stretch across the Takoradi Mall and Jubilee Market, to link the Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout.
Responding to the issue in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said Messrs Kingspok Construction Limited, a local contractor, who worked on tier one of the interchange, was mobilising the materials to site, to begin work on the stretch that joined the roundabout from the Axim Road, and then Takoradi-Accra stretch.
Mr Darko-Mensah said: “This means that drivers driving towards the Takoradi-Accra road from the Liberation Road and the Axim Road, will no longer take a right turn at the Takoradi Mall to join the main Accra Road, since the part that joined the roundabout directly from Accra would be opened soon.
The Regional Minister said the move was expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the area, especially during rush hours.
He indicated that the government was having discussions with its Chinese counterparts for the resumption of work on the project, to help improve road infrastructure and facilitate economic growth in the region.
“I have called the Roads Minister who told me that we have finalised the Chinese loan restructuring, and Ghana would be paying them off to resume completion of the PTC interchange project,” Mr Darko-Mensah said.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on September 16, 2020, cut the sod for the construction of the first-ever $2 billion interchange at the PTC roundabout, which was executed being by Messrs Power China Sino Hydro Corporation Limited and it was expected to be completed in 30 months.
However, in January 2023, the Chinese contractor left the site, and the project had stalled with about 80 per cent work completed.
Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister of Roads and Highways, in April this year upon touring the project to assess the state of the stalled interchange said, the government was considering ceding part of the contract to another contractor to undertake some minimal works on the project.
GNA