The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has explained that the delay in commencing the 1.5 billion dollar Tema port expansion project which includes the expansion of the Tema motorway is among other things due to the existence of shrines in the catchment area.
Contractors are yet to begin work on the motorway which was announced by the President in March 2014.
The Head of Communication at the GPHA, Paul Ansah on the Citi Breakfast Show said physical constructions will commence this quarter after following the completion of negotiations with other stakeholders.
“Before we could proceed with proper construction, there were some negotiations we had to undertake. One was with the Chief and the people of Tema and Nungua. There were certain shrines within the project location which we had to negotiate to relocate.It has been a very hectic negotiation and we have concluded with that negotiation with the Nungua Chief.”
He further explained that expansion had delayed because the Authority is still discussing the final design of the project with the Roads and Highways Authority.
“We are still discussing the final design of the Tema motorway with the Roads and Highways Authority. I hear that the port expansion project is now underway. The road portion is awaiting final agreement on design.
“In as much as we are very enthusiastic about getting the motorway expanded as part of the successful expansion of the port, we need to agree with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, “Mr. Ansah explained.
He said the expansion among others will entail the conversion of motorways into flyovers.
“It has been made very clear to us the Japanese are going to handle the flyovers. ..so what we are doing in the interim is we are going to do some redesigning of the round about to allow some traffic to flow alongside the area even more easily than it is now.”
Meanwhile, the GPHA has explained that the Tema motorway is not covered by the 1.5 billion dollar port expansion project.
This is in contradiction to earlier announcements by the President John Dramani Mahama.
Latest information from the Authority suggests the motorway expansion project will be carried out by the Japanese government.
The Accra-Tema motorway is a 19km 2-lane dual-carriageway which forms an integral part of the National Route 1(N1) .
It is also forms part of the Trans West African Highway (Abidjan-Lagos Corridor), linking the city of Accra, the Kotoka International Airport and Tema Port.
Roads Minister Inusah Fuseini had earlier indicated that works on the Accra-Tema motorway expansion will begin in March this year, by which time feasibility studies to establish the project’s viability would have been completed.
Click on audio to listen to Mr. Ansah
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By: Umaru Sanda Amadu/Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana