The government has decided to move the 64.4-kilometre Ashaiman Roundabout–Atimpoku Junction road project onto the Big Push programme to ensure the timely release of funds and completion of the project.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, hon Governs Kwame Agbodza, announced the decision during a road inspection tour, explaining that the move was necessary due to delays in accessing funds under the project’s existing loan arrangement.
He said although agreements had been reached with bilateral partners, delays in the disbursement of funds had affected the pace of work, prompting the government to rely on domestic resources to keep the project on schedule.
According to the minister, the decision will not affect the scope of the project or the terms of the contract, as only the source of funding is changing.
“We are not going to continue with the loan on the project. We are going to continue with the contract but switch the funding to a Big Push project,” Hon Agbodza stated.
He added that government had reached a point where it could finance the project with its own resources rather than continue waiting for loan disbursements.
Hon Agbodza further disclosed that the same funding arrangement would be extended to other major road projects, including the Tema–Aflao road being undertaken by BHM Construction and the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road project.
He stressed that the decision was part of a broader government policy and was not targeted at any particular contractor or project.
“It is not one contract issue. It is a general policy so that we can complete these projects on schedule,” he said.
The migration to the Big Push programme is expected to provide an alternative funding arrangement for the affected projects and help address delays associated with their existing loan financing.
