Top 10 Gargantuan Projects of Akufo-Addo that Ghanaians want to see before he ends his tenure
Top 10 Infrastructure Projects of Akufo-Addo: Ghanaians are yearning to see the gargantuan projects promised by President Nana Akufo-Addo when he was campaigning in the 2016 general elections. Most of these promises have been well documented in the manifesto that New Patriotic Party (NPP) marketed to Ghanaians.
Indeed when the then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo won the elections in 2016 and started working in 2017, most of these promises have seen sod-cutting and others completed, while others are already at the various stages of completion. The following are the top 10 infrastructural projects his administration is expected to deliver before his tenure comes to an end in 2024.
1. Agenda 111 Regional and District Hospitals.
The Agenda 111 project includes 101 district hospitals, 6 regional hospitals in the newly created regions, 2 specialized hospitals in the middle and northern belts, as well as a regional hospital in the Western Region and renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
President Akufo-Addo at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana when the call for an expansive health delivery system made a promise to Ghanaians that the government was preparing to construct 101 hospitals across the country to help beef up health delivery in the country.
The Project Implementation Committee chaired by Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, had secured sites and land titles for 88 out of the 101 district hospitals and each unit would cost US$17 million, covering 15 acres.
2. Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam
Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam is a government of Ghana financed project. The US$993 million project consists of a dam with an elevation of 165m near the Pwalugu Bridge on the White Volta River and with a maximum reservoir area of 350 kilometers squared, a powerhouse consisting of two turbines with 60MW of installed capacity and 16.5 MW of firm continuous capacity and an Irrigation Scheme consisting of a 12m high weir and canal network (main, primary, secondary and tertiary canals) for about 25,000 ha of land.
The Project area is located on the White Volta River in Ghana, about 16km east of Pwalugu Bridge on the main Tamale-Bolgatanga road.
On November 29th, 2019, the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo cut sod for the for construction activities to begin, and on February 26th, 2020, Parliament approved the project. The project is expected to be completed in four years.
Well, it seems no one is updating Ghanaians about the current status of the construction of this dam, but what the government should note is Ghanaians are waiting to see this massive investment commissioned before this government’s tenure comes to an end.
3. Tamale Interchange
The Tamale Interchange is an integral part of comprehensive measures put in place by the Akufo-Addo government to address the issues of congestion in urban centers, and to help improve travel times on major arterial roads. The interchange funded under the US$2 billion China Synohydro deal is expected to be completed in 24 months.
This is the first interchange to be built in Tamale Metropolis and the indgens there can’t wait to catch a glimpse of it.
4. Takoradi Interchange
This interchange is the first ever interchange to be constructed in the Western Region. It is being constructed at the PTC round about in Takoradi. This project is being funded under the US$2 billion Synohydro facility. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The people of Sekondi-Takoradi are eager to see this huge project in their history turn into a reality.
5. Kumasi Central Market redevelopment
Kumasi Central Market redevelopment project is the phase 2 of the Kumasi Central Business District Redevelopment project. The first phase which is the redevelopment of the Kejetia market and lorry station has fully been completed with over 8,000 stores and other facilities. The EUR 248 million project is being executed by Messrs Contracta Construction Limited from the United Kingdom (UK). The project is expected to be completed in 4 years.
6. One District One Factory
The “One District One Factory” Initiative is a key component of the Industrial Transformation Agenda of the NPP Government. The concept was first introduced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives during the past New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration, as part of an integrated programme for Accelerated Growth and Industrial Development.
Originally designated as the Rural Enterprises Development Programme, and later rebranded as the District Industrialisation Programme (DIP). It was designed as a comprehensive programme for rural industrialisation, involving the setting up of at least one medium to large scale factory in each of the administrative districts of Ghana.
This initiative was strongly emphasized in the 2016 manifesto of the New Patriotic Party and so Ghanaians are of high hopes to see this promise fully delivered.
7. New La General Hospital
On Tuesday, 10th August 2020, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the commencement of the construction of the new 160-bed La General Hospital to begin. This €68 million redevelopment project is being financed by a credit facility from Standard Chartered Bank of the United Kingdom, with an export credit guarantee from Sinosure of the People’s Republic of China.
8. National Cathedral
National Cathedral was a promise made by President Akufo-Addo on the day of his investiture in 2016 after he won the general elections. The President set up a Board of Trustees for the project of which Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah is the Chairperson. The entire project is estimated to cost US$250 Million. The government has provided a land and a seed fund of 10% of the estimated cost.
In the middle of the year, the Board of Trustees of the project through the government launched an appeal for funds campaign asking dedicated Ghanaians to contribute at least GHC100 to help raise funds for the project. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Although a good number of Ghanaians feel it’s not a priority currently, most people are also eager to see the final building as people leading it have touted it to be one of the most beautiful edifices to have ever existed in Ghana upon its completion.
9. Kumasi International Airport
The construction of the Kumasi International Airport is phase two of the airport’s redevelopment plans. The conversion of the local airport into an international airport became necessary due to the growing demands of aviation services in the country.
The project involves the extension of the runway from 1981 meters to 2300 meters to accommodate Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, construction of a new terminal, construction of additional aprons, and other ancillary works.
On completion, the new terminal will have the capacity to handle one million passengers per annum.
This is one of the major projects this government is undertaking in the region.
10. Dualization of Teshie Beach Road and Nungua Interchange
Vice President Dr. Bawumia cut the sod for this US$100 million project which spans from Independence Square in Accra passing through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema Community Three, and Sakumono in the Tema enclave. This 26.6km dual road has one interchange at the Nungua section.
This project falls under the Accra-Tema Beach Road Improvement Project and is being funded under the Synohydro Facility. It is estimated to be completed within 24 months, and it is being constructed by the Messrs Gansu International Corporation for Economic and Technical Cooperation and Messrs China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited.
Source: Accramail.com
