Government to expand and complete key infrastructure - Duffuor

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on Wednesday said the Government would expand and complete key infrastructure in the country, including power, transport, information and communications.

He said this would help to scale up and speed up the economic growth envisaged in the medium term.

Dr Duffuor in the 2010 Budget Statement to Parliament said work on road infrastructure including the Anwiankwanta to Yamoransa; Tetteh Quarshie to Madina; Pantang to Manfe Dual-Carriage; Bamboi to Tinga and Sogakope to Adidome and to Ho roads would be continued.

The other road projects he mentioned included the Ho to Fume; Asankragwa to Enchi; Berekum to Sampa; Kpandu to Worawora and to Dambai Phase III; Kpandu to Worawora and to Dambai Phase III; Wenchi-Sampa Phase II and Nsawkaw to Namase section; Bomfa Junction to Asiwa and Bekwai roads. The rest are the Sefwi Bekwa to Eshiem to Asankragwa; Anyinam to Konongo Bypass road; Achimota to Ofankor road; Nsawam to Apedwa and Nsawam Bypass (Accra bound) and the Kwafokrom to Apedwa Dual-Carriageway. Dr Duffuor also said work on other feeder roads including the Bortianor to Kokrobitey; Abrem-Agona to Essiam Effutu Phase I; Wegbe to Alavanyo to Nkonya; Akropong to Tumfa and Ekorsu roads; Tankroto to Fiema; Bunkrugu to Tongo to Zuarungu as well as the Asankragwa Town Roads would be completed in the fiscal year 2010.

He said the Ghana Highway Authority would also initiate the construction of seven bridges on the Birim; Ochi; Asuboni; Amenfineso; Pra and Kalangmua Rivers, with support from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

Dr Duffuor said rail infrastructure including the Asaprochona to Tema portion of the suburban rail line would also be completed in 2010 to improve commuter rail services between Accra and Tema.

"The Accra to Nsawam; Kumasi to Ejuso, and Takoradi to Kojokrom lines would also be rehabilitated and modernized to extend the rail network to improve suburban rail service in the relevant urban areas," he said, adding that the ongoing feasibility study on the Western Corridor Railway Line would be completed in 2010 with private sector investment, to be sought to rehabilitate the line."

Dr Duffuor said feasibility studies would also be conducted on the Central and Eastern rail lines as well as new commuter services between Accra and Winneba, with a branch line to Dansoman, Accra to Madina, and Accra to Jamestown.

He indicated that the rehabilitation of locomotives and rolling stock for the Ghana Railway Company would be undertaken to improve operations on the Western Corridor and suburban rail service operations. "The rehabilitation of the Kotoka International Airport, which commenced this year, will be completed next year to improve operations at the Airport," Dr Duffuor said.

The Finance Minister said new methods of road building such as concrete block-paved roads, known for their durability, cost efficiency and huge employment generation potential, would be used to construct community roads across a number of districts in what would amount to a stimulus economic package.