Coronavirus has affected execution of China-funded infrastructure projects – Minister

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta has hinted that the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China is affecting the execution of major projects funded by the Chinese government.

“It’s understandable, the officials should have come from China to join us to perform these exercises in relation to Sinohydro deal [but] because of the manifestation of that deadly disease, that certainly has affected a lot of things,” Mr Amoako-Atta explained in an interview on Star FM monitored by theghanareport.com.

So far, only four out of ten projects have commenced under phase one of the Chinese government’s agreement with Ghana, Mr Amoako-Atta revealed.

The minister said despite the challenges occasioned by the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese government has communicated its commitments to Ghana under the bilateral agreement.

“The government has full assurance that the project will continue. Pretty soon arrangements will be in place to cut the sod for the other six projects under the first phase of the project,” he said.

BACKGROUND

The $2billion Master Project Support was agreed between Ghana and China in 2018 to address major infrastructure challenges in Ghana.

Under the deal, Sinohydro Group Limited of China will provide the infrastructure of the government’s choice in exchange for Ghana’s refined bauxite.

The first phase of the project, costing $646.6 million begins with the Tamale Interchange project.

The projects under Phase 1, which have been approved by Parliament are:

Lot 1 – Construction of Accra Inner City Roads. A total of eighty-four (84) kilometres of roads located in Trobu, Anyaa-Sowutoum, Dome-Kwabenya, Adenta and Teshie will be constructed;

Lot 2 – Construction of Kumasi and Mampong Inner City Roads. A total of one hundred (100) kilometres of inner-city roads will be constructed in Kumasi and Mampong. In Kumasi, the affected road networks are in Manhyia, Suame, Tafo Pankrono, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Oforikrom, Subin, Nhyiaeso and Bantama;

Lot 3 – Construction of the Tamale Interchange;

Lot 4 – Construction of the PTC Roundabout Interchange, in Sekondi-Takoradi, the first interchange in the western part of our country;

Lot 5 – Dualisation of the Adenta-Dodowa Road. Fourteen (14) kilometres of the Adenta-Dodowa Road will be dualised so as to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and reduce travel times on the corridor;

Lot 6 – Construction of Sunyani Inner City and Berekum Township Roads. A total of thirty-nine (39) kilometres of roads will be constructed in Sunyani and Berekum Township. In Sunyani, twenty-nine (29) kilometres of inner-city roads will be constructed, whilst Berekum Township will see ten (10) kilometres of its roads constructed;

Lot 7 – Construction of Prestea Township and Cape Coast Inner City Roads. A total of thirty-two (32) kilometres of roads will be constructed in Cape Coast and Prestea. In Cape Coast, twenty-two kilometres (22) of inner-city roads will be constructed, whilst Prestea Township will see ten (10) kilometres of roads constructed;

Lot 8 – Upgrading of Selected Feeder Roads in Ashanti and Western Regions. Sixty-eight (68) kilometres of feeder roads in Ashanti and Western North regions will be rehabilitated. The roads that will be rehabilitated are mainly in communities that have bauxite deposits;

Lot 9 – Rehabilitation of Akim Oda-Ofoase Road. This lot involves the rehabilitation of the thirty-eight (38) kilometre Akim Oda-Ofoase road, which is part of the trunk road network, IR3, and passes through several rural communities that connect Akim Oda to Ofoase;

Lot 10 – Construction of the Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodo Pepesu Road of the Eastern Corridor. This will involve the construction of the sixty-six (66) kilometre section of the Eastern Corridor Road between Hohoe to Jasikan and Dodo Pepesu;

Under Phase 2 of the Sinohydro deal, which will come on stream after approval by Parliament, an additional 1,300 kilometres of roads, 3 interchanges, and 69 steel bridges will be constructed, at an estimated $850 million dollars.