Parliamentary Committee Inspects Sankara Interchange, Visits GCAA

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

Work on the Captain Thomas Sankara Interchange in Accra is expected to be completed by the end of the year, the Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transport was told on Monday.

The Committee was on an inspection visit to see at first hand the progress of work on the project.

Mr G.J. Brocke, Acting Director of the Department of Urban Roads, said the project, which is financed through 86 million French-franc buyers credit from

a consortium of French banks and a counterpart funding of eight billion cedis by the government, started in September, last year.

Mr Brocke said price fluctuation would bring the total cost of the project to about 100 million French francs and 10 billion cedis as counterpart funding.

The interchange, which can last a minimum of 50 years, is part of the road network project for Accra to facilitate vehicular movement and provide for non-motorised traffic to cater for cyclists and pedestrians.

Similar interchanges are planned for the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Tetteh-Quarshie Roundabout, Akuafo Roundabout at the 37 Military Hospital and the Dimples area on the Motorway extension at Dworwulu.

Mr Brocke told members of the Committee that during the construction of the interchange, a number of trees were felled to facilitate work, and the Department of Urban Roads intends to replant about 400 trees along the stretch.

He said a system of drains would also be constructed along the interchange to help check flooding of the road.

Mr Jean-Bernard Arnold, Resident Manager of Razel, the main contractors, said the project would be seismic-resistant, with the construction of a system of reinforced concrete panels along the interchange.

Mr Dominic Azumah, Chairman of the Committee, commended the company for what he described as "excellent work".