Ghana, AfDB sign agreement
Accra, June 11, Ghanadot/GNA –
Ghana and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Thursday
signed a supplementary financing agreement totalling 64.65
million dollars for the completion of three on-going road
projects.
They are the Tema-Aflao Rehabilitation Road Project,
Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe upgrading and the West African Economic
and Monetary Union (UEMOA) - Ghana Road Programme, made up
of Techiman-Kintampo section and the Apaaso-Kintampo
section.
Mr Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic
Planning, signed for Ghana while Mr Alieu Jeng, AfDB Ghana
Country Office Resident Representative, signed for the Bank.
In brief remarks, Mr Kwetey reiterated government’s
commitment to improve infrastructure saying the funds had
come at an opportune time when huge investments were needed
to overcome the challenges facing infrastructural
development.
“We are thankful to the African Development Bank for its
efforts to work in tandem with the government to quickly
implement these projects, since this reflects the commitment
of President John Evans Atta Mills to expand the
infrastructure in the eastern corridors of Ghana and further
promote economic growth, regional trade and integration,” he
said.
Mr Jeng said the Bank together with the Ministry of Roads
and Highways would develop an action plan to fast-track the
projects for successful completion as well as to avoid
future cost overruns.
He reiterated AfDB’s commitment to the socio-economic
development of Ghana saying “these
projects support Government of Ghana’s goal of poverty
reduction and economic development by reducing travel time
and vehicle operating costs, resulting in reduced road user
costs for both passengers and freight”.
In December last year, the Board of Directors of the African
Development Fund approved the three supplementary loans for
the completion of the projects due to price increases of
inputs for road construction such as bitumen, cement and
steel.
The Techiman-Kintampo road is part of the Tema-Ouagadougou-Bamako
corridor whilst the remaining 51.55-kilometre
Akatsi-Agbozome-Aflao road is part of Ghana-Togo-Benin
corridor.
The completion of these roads is expected to improve
transportation between Ghana and these countries.
The 30-kilometre Akatsi—Dzodze-Noepe upgrading involves
asphalt concrete surfacing. When completed it would offer
transporters an alternative road to Togo that by-passes the
Togolese capital.
GNA
