Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Kwame Agbodza, has asked the government to acknowledge former President John Mahama for the newly constructed Tema Motorway Interchange.
In an article, the Adaklu Member of Parliament described as shameful, the “posture the President is seeking to exhibit with plans to take credit for the Tema Interchange Project”.
According to Agbodza, the project in question was started by Mr. Mahama during his time in office.
“Sadly, President Akufo-Addo has consistently taken credit for strategic projects initiated by his predecessors and like the proverbial ostrich, turn round to accuse his ‘benefactor’ of incompetence, and simply plunging Ghana into an abyss. I cite the Pokuase, Obetsebi Lamptey Interchanges, Kotoka Terminal 3, and Phase II of the Kumasi Airport expansion project as examples,” the article read.
Giving more explanations as to how the project began, Agbodza noted that, “John Mahama was implementing a Master Plan to ease congestion in our cities. In line with this, he initiated a plan to tie the MPS Port expansion Project with the Reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway with interchanges. Meridian Port Service (MPS) proposed to carry out the Motorway reconstruction as part of the Port Expansion. However, preparation for the Motorway component delayed. As a result, MPS decided to focus on its core mandate and went ahead with the port expansion project which is now completed and is in use.”
Justifying his claim with a sequence of events which led to the realization of the project, Kwame Agbodza concluded by stressing that “President Akufo-Addo must not pretend. He must and it’s a duty to give credit to President John Mahama”.
The newly constructed Tema Motorway Grade Separated Interchange is a US$57 million project financed under a grant from the Japanese government through its agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The interchange will facilitate easy connection from Accra to Aflao and onwards to Togo, as well as the Akosombo road.
Reports indicate that the government will commission it on Friday, June 5, 2020.
Read Mr. Agbodza’s full article below:
MINORITY STATEMENT ON THE TEMA MOTORWAY INTERCHANGE PROJECT
This may as well be the last opportunity for President Nana Akufo Addo within his four year mandate, to acknowledge and commend the sterling performance in the Roads sector by his predecessor, President John Mahama. This is perhaps one of the few he may have to do with few months to the next general elections to yield to the call for sincerity in politics, as daunting as it may have been since he assumed office on January 7, 2017.
On 5th June, 2020, I understand, there is a planned grand funfair to officially commission the newly constructed Tema Motorway Interchange. But by the time you read this piece, you will appreciate why I need to set the records straight about the product of former John Mahama’s Foresight and Vision.
In the area of infrastructure, it’s an open secret that the NDC is the Party of Infrastructure and President Mahama is the Captain of the Infrastructure Team. President Akufo Addo cannot match the achievements of his predecessor, Many more appreciate the critical interventions President Mahama made in providing relevant social Infrastructural projects across all sectors. These investments augment Ghana’s socio-economic development.
The Meridian Port Services (MPS) Tema Port Expansion project, Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, the Kumasi and Tamale Airport Expansion projects, the newly built Ho Airport which has been left unused, the Volivo, Pokuase and Obetsebi Lamptey Interchanges, just to mention a few. It is evidently clear, that many of these projects provide opportunities for sustainable job creation, revenue to the State and improved standard of living.
Sadly, President Akufo Addo has consistently taken credit for strategic projects initiated by his predecessors and like the proverbial ostrich, turn round to accuse his ‘benefactor’ of incompetence, and simply plunging Ghana into an abyss. I cite the Pokuase, Obetsebi Lamptey Interchanges, Kotoka Terminal 3, and Phase II of the Kumasi Airport expansion project as examples.
It is the same shameful posture the President is seeking to exhibit with plans to take credit for the Tema Interchange Project.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following are facts on chronology of events in relation to the Tema Motorway Interchange.
John Mahama was implementing a Master Plan to ease congestion in our cities. In line with this, he initiated a plan to tie the MPS Port expansion Project with the Reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway with interchanges. Meridian Port Service (MPS) proposed to carry out the Motorway reconstruction as part of the Port Expansion.
However, preparation for the Motorway component delayed. As a result, MPS decided to focus on its core mandate and went ahead with the port expansion project which is now completed and is in use. MPS, however, carried out some upgrading works at the Tema Motorway Roundabout as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. This was completed prior to the implementation of the current Tema Motorway Interchange.
Still focused on resolving the traffic constriction at the Tema end of the Motorway, President Mahama decided to seek donor support from the Japanese government. The concept involved a three-tier Interchange at the Tema end of the Motorway. The Japanese generously agreed to support Ghana and initiated the process of Building the Interchange.
For the avoidance of doubts, we must all be reminded of the sequence of events leading to the realization of this important project, these include but not limited to:
On 01/09/2016 -Preparatory Survey Report (Draft Report) was submitted
On November 2016-Design Outline Mission Team from JICA visits Ghana
to validate the proposals and confirm support for the project.
On 03/04/2017 – Preparatory Final Report submitted by CTI Engineering
On 31/03/2017 – Grant Aid Agreement Signed. This signing is only
Consequential since the project has already been approved.
On 19/05/2017 – consultancy Agreement signed with CTI Engineering.
It must be on record that, in some cases, it takes up to 6 years for projects under JICA to become fully operational unless it is a phase of an ongoing project. President Akufo-Addo must do the right thing for once. He must set the records straight by admitting he inherited this project fully funded and commend President John Mahama for initiating this project. All processes carried out from 2017 were all consequential. Starting Phase II of the Tema Motorway interchange before the end of this year will deliver the next phase of the project.
President Akufo Addo must be reminded that, Article 35(7) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution states….’as far as practicable, a government shall continue and execute projects and programmes commenced by the previous Government’… The intention of this particular clause is NOT to wish away the contributions of previous governments in relation to particular projects, in this case, the Tema Motorway Interchange.
President Akufo-Addo MUST NOT pretend. He must and it’s a duty to give credit to President John Mahama.
Hon Kwame Agbodza.
Ranking Member, Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament
