On January 2, 2024, the reconstruction and expansion of the Accra-Tema Motorway officially began. This extensive 19.5-kilometer project entails the creation of a 10-lane stretch from the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout to the Tema roundabout. Maripoma Enterprise Limited, a Ghanaian-owned construction company, is overseeing the project.
The announcement of this initiative was made by the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, during a tour of various road projects in Accra. The minister and his team inspected ongoing drainage projects in Tema Community 11 and 12, along with the expansion project of the Tema Motorway.
Minister Amoako-Atta highlighted that the Accra-Tema Motorway project marks the initial phase of the overall expansion project. The subsequent phases involve the section from Tetteh Quarshie to Apenkwa and the extension from Apenkwa to Neoplan.
He assured prompt execution of the project and called upon institutions with billboards along the road to remove them promptly. Minister Amoako-Attah anticipates a substantial transformation in road infrastructure in 2024, marked by the completion and commissioning of various projects.
Expressing contentment with the progress of drainage work in communities 11 and 12, the Minister commended the contractor and emphasized the importance of contractors engaging with the community before commencing projects to ensure effective cooperation, considering that many projects tend to inconvenience residents.
“You need to put a human face to the work you do by briefing them about the project to enable them to plan adequately on how and where to park their vehicles,” he said.
The Minister praised the contractors for their efforts in repairing a significant number of slabs in the region, thereby enhancing residents’ accessibility to their homes.
He offered guidance to both contractors and engineers, stressing the necessity of prioritizing high-quality work. The minister underscored that any construction company delivering work below the expected standards would be subject to legal consequences.
Expressing apprehension about certain contractors who might perceive government projects as a favor to residents, he emphasized the crucial need to ensure value for money in all endeavors.
“We are interested in value for money, and I will urge contractors to put the nation’s interests at heart and do excellent work,” he said.
Concerning the Tema bridge, the Minister verified its completion and disclosed that a total of 50 similar bridges have been successfully finished nationwide.
Providing additional details, Mr. Kingsley Attafuah, the Technical Director of Raceg Construction Limited, reported that the Tema drainage system project commenced in July 2023, with 80 percent of the work already accomplished. He offered assurance to the Ghanaian public that the project would be completed on schedule, clearing the path for road construction set to commence in March 2024.
