Finance Minister signs ¥3 billion JICA grant deal for Kumasi Inner Ring Road improvement project

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the government has signed a ¥3 billion (Japanese Yen) grant agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Kumasi Inner Ring Road improvement project.

The agreement was signed in Accra on Thursday, October 2.

The Inner Ring Road is a critical artery linking the N6 and N8 within Kumasi and forming part of the Takoradi/Tema Ports–Ouagadougou Corridor.

In a post on his X page, the Finance Minister said “Good news for Oseikrom! Today, I had the privilege of signing a ¥ 3 billion (Japanese Yen) grant agreement with JICA for the improvement of the Inner Ring Road in Kumasi.

“The Inner Ring Road is a critical artery, linking the N6 and N8 within Kumasi and forming part of the Takoradi/Tema Ports–Ouagadougou Corridor. Unfortunately, rapid growth in traffic has turned sections of this road into bottlenecks, with congestion, delays, and safety risks for road users.

“This project directly tackles those challenges. It will: •⁠ ⁠Widen 3.2 km of road between Santasi and Ahodwo Roundabouts, •⁠ ⁠Upgrade intersections with modern traffic signals, •⁠ ⁠Improve pedestrian facilities and drainage systems, •⁠ ⁠Enhance connectivity between Santasi Roundabout and the N8. The transformation will be remarkable: travel speeds will more than triple, journey times will be cut drastically, and both passenger and freight movement will become far more efficient.

“We are deeply grateful to JICA for this generous support and continued partnership with Ghana. And this is only part of our wider agenda for Kumasi(Ashanti). Ongoing and upcoming works include: 1.⁠ ⁠The Suame Interchange and Local Roads, 2.⁠ ⁠The Sunyani Road (Phase 2), 3.⁠ ⁠The Konongo Bypass, and 4.⁠ ⁠The forthcoming 45km Kumasi Outer Ring Road.”

After the signing of the agreement, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza said that the Inner Ring Road upgrade is part of a broader transformation plan for Kumasi’s transport system.

“We are deeply grateful to JICA for this generous support and continued partnership with Ghana. But this is only one piece of the puzzle. From the Suame Interchange to the Konongo Bypass and the forthcoming 45km Kumasi Outer Ring Road, our vision is to reshape Kumasi’s transport landscape and unlock economic and social opportunities for millions,” he said.

source: 3news.com