Chinese govt releases funds for Accra-Kumasi road

The Chinese government has released 100 million Chinese Yuan (about 12.5 million dollars) for the first phase of the Ofankor -Nsawam two-lane dual carriageway portion of the Accra-Kumasi trunk road reconstruction project.

The road is being reconstructed with assistance from the Chinese government at a cost of 230 million yuan (about 30 million dollars).

This was announced by Mr Keyuan Zhang, Chinese Ambassador in Ghana when he called on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.

Mr Zhang said the interest free loan had been approved and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning was expected to sign the agreement in Accra soon for the bidding process, award of contract and sod cutting before the end of the year.

He said this was in fulfilment of the agreement signed between both countries during President Kufuor's visit to China in November, last year.

The Chinese Ambassador expressed the commitment of the Embassy to encourage Chinese businessmen to invest in Ghana and strengthen bilateral relationship between both countries.

President Kufuor expressed appreciation about the fulfilment of the agreement by the Chinese government.

He said this underpinned the improved relationship between both countries and pledged Ghana's co-operation with China.

Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Minister of Roads and Highways, addressing the "Meet the Press" in Accra in October on other sections of the Accra-Kumasi trunk road reconstruction project, said negotiations for funding of the Nsawam - Apedwa road section had been completed and procurement for consultancy and works would begin soon.

It is being financed from the African Development Bank (AfDB) at a cost of 14 million dollars.

He said about 45 per cent of the physical works on the Apedwa - Bunso section of the main Accra-Kumasi trunk road had been completed.

The cost of the project was about 10.2 million dollars and Ghana Government's component was 21 billion cedis.

About 99 per cent of the physical works on the Bunso-Anyinam section of the road estimated at about 4.9 million dollars and 9.6 billion cedis had been completed.

Dr Anane said construction works on the 85-kilometre Anyinam - Konongo section financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) at a cost of 13.9 million dollars and 30.6 billion cedis was on-going.

He said procurement process for the two-lane dual carriageway Konongo -Kumasi road being financed by the government of Denmark was also ongoing.