Kasoa Interchange: Akufo-Addo dares Mahama over $172-M cost

President John Dramani Mahama has been challenged to go back to the drawing board to reassess the current cost of the Kasoa Interchange Project because it is overpriced.

Three-time flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday dared President Mahama to re-subject the project to an open tender because Ghana stands the chance to save “half of the price.”

Early October, Parliament approved a Credit Facility Agreement totalling $172,576,243 between the Government of Ghana and Deutsche Bank New York Branch and its affiliates for the design and construction of the Kasoa Interchange and Ancillary Works.

The project comprises a construction of 200m of Interchange Bridge, new roundabout, drainage and public lighting, 2000m of Accra-Cape Coast Highway, local roads within the catchment of the interchange and 1640m of roads towards Nyanyano and Bawjiase.

The project is aimed at improving the flow of traffic on the Accra-Cape Coast highway and also improve the quality of life of the people and improve local roads within the project area.

Speaking at the second Aliu Mahama Memorial Lecture in Accra, Nana Addo said the money government is expending on the project is ridiculous, adding Mahama “has nothing to lose” to re-tender the project.

He said taking that bold decision “will be unprecedented” since that will restore public trust in the president.

The lecture is held annually in honour of the late vice president who served under the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.