A commissioning ceremony for the project for Improvement of International Corridors in the Republic of Ghana was held on Friday 5 June 2020 at the Tema Roundabout, attended by H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Minister for Roads & Highways, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister for Transport, Hon. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, H.E. Mr. Tsutomu HIMENO, Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, Mr. Yasumichi ARAKI, Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office and other honourable guests.
On 31st March 2017, JICA signed a grant agreement with the Government of Ghana for this project. The grant amount was six billion, two hundred and fifty-nine million Japanese Yen (JPY 6.259 billion), equivalent to about US$ 57 million. After the detailed survey, construction works commenced in February 2018 to construct 4km road comprising 1km each of the 4 legs of the interchange, 5 service roads for right turning traffic, 190m long box culvert underpass, 4 disability-friendly pedestrian bridges, traffic signals, street lightning and other essential components. It took about 28 months to be completed on schedule under professional and diligent works by the supervising Japanese consultant CTI Engineering International Co., Ltd., the main Japanese contractor SHIMIZU-DAI NIPPON JV. On the site, this project employed over 600 Ghanaians and enhanced the capacity of these local staffs through technology transfer and training of public officials, advocating for “quality infrastructure”.
In addition, this TEMA roundabout project is a part of the implementation of the West Africa Growth Ring Corridors (WAGRIC) master plan, which emphasizes on the sub-regional economic integration with boosting logistics network for regional corridors including Abidjan-Lagos Corridor and other main international corridors. The project would reduce the traffic congestion and travel time at the roundabout from 20 minutes to 5 minutes. Also, it would improve logistics from/to Tema port for boosting trade among Ghana and neighbours’ countries. This enhancement of logistics for the regional economy would enable lives of the people not only in Ghana but also in this region, more prosperous.
At the ceremony, the Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Mr. Yasumichi ARAKI said: “JICA has supported Ghana with utilizing Japanese high-technological capability to provide high quality infrastructure under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD, process. I believe this high-quality road infrastructure would improve the transportation sector in Ghana and bring a better future for all Ghanaian and people in this region with the enhancement of logistics for the regional economy”.
Since 1962, JICA has supported Ghana in many areas including health, road, electricity, agriculture, industry, education, governance and other significant sectors under the scheme of Yen Loans, Grant Aid, and Technical Corporation. Total accumulated cost is approximately USD 1,363 million, USD1,145 million, and USD 574 million, respectively (JFY2017). Especially, in the road sector, two projects are currently underway; a loan project for the Construction of a New Bridge across the Volta River, amounting to JPY 11.239 Billion, and a grant aid project for rehabilitation of National Trunk Road N8 (Phase 2), amounting to JPY 6.486 Billion.