Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency, Lawyer John Darko, has expressed serious doubt about the government’s ability to meet the completion deadline for the Suame Interchange project. Speaking in an interview with Kwame Adinkrah on Kumasi-based Pure FM, the MP revealed that the project has suffered several setbacks, mainly due to delayed payments to contractors and logistical challenges, making it unlikely for the government to complete it as scheduled.
According to Mr. Darko, none of the interim payment certificates raised by the contractors this year have been honoured by the government, a situation which has compelled the contractors to reduce their workforce drastically and slow down construction. “The contractors have not been paid for works done in 2025, and because of that, they have only a skeletal staff on site. The pace of work has dropped significantly,” he said. He added that if this situation persists, there is no realistic chance that the project will be completed within the initial timeline announced by the government.
The Suame Interchange Project, one of the major infrastructural undertakings in the Ashanti Region, was launched in 2022 with the promise of transforming the busy Suame Roundabout into a modern four-tier interchange. Parliament approved two loan agreements totalling about €156 million for the first phase of the project, with construction expected to last 36 months from commencement. The project, being executed by M/S Rango Construction Limited, was to include several adjoining roads such as those leading to Abrepo, Krofrom, Anomangye, and the Suame Magazine enclave.
In July 2024, then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assured residents of Kumasi that the first phase of the interchange would be completed by the end of 2024. But reports indicate that the work remains far behind schedule.
Mr. Darko’s comments echo growing public frustration over the slow pace of the project, which has led to worsening traffic congestion around the Suame Roundabout and its surrounding areas. Residents and motorists have complained about long delays, dust pollution, and the economic impact of the stalled works on businesses within the Suame Magazine industrial zone.
Government officials, including the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, have in the past acknowledged that the project has faced numerous challenges, including funding shortfalls, delays in relocating pipelines and utilities belonging to the Ghana Water Company, and compensation issues with affected property owners. The Minister has, however, maintained that the government remains committed to completing the project, assuring that all financial and technical bottlenecks will be addressed to ensure work resumes at full pace.
Despite these assurances, the Suame MP insists that without prompt payments and better coordination among government agencies, the project will continue to lag behind schedule. He urged the government to take urgent steps to clear arrears owed to the contractors, resolve utility relocation problems, and revise the project timeline to reflect the realities on the ground.
The Suame Interchange, when completed, is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, enhance mobility, and boost economic activity within the Kumasi metropolis. However, with work currently stalled and government struggling to meet its financial obligations, residents fear the project may suffer the same fate as other delayed infrastructure projects in the Ashanti Region.
Purefmonlinegh.com || 2025
