Tema Interchange Project: For Once, Give Mahama His Credit Before You Exit – NDC To Akufo-Addo

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is asking the Akufo-Addo government to give former President John Dramani Mahama his due for the Tema Motorway Interchange project.

The opposition party says the project was the brainchild of the former President who secured full funding for the commencement of the project before this current administration took over.

The project which officially started in 2018 was completed and opened to traffic last month.

With official commissioning of the interchange is scheduled for Friday, June 5, the Minority NDC says the President must do the honorable thing and acknowledge his predecessor former John Dramani Mahama for his sterling performance in the Roads sector.

“This may as well be the last opportunity for President Nana Akufo Addo within his four-year mandate, to acknowledge and commend the sterling performance in the Roads sector by his predecessor, President John Mahama.

“This is perhaps one of the few he may have to do with few months to the next general elections to yield to the call for sincerity in politics, as daunting as it may have been since he assumed office on January 7, 2017”, a Minority Press Release has said today.

Read the Minority’s Press Release below:

PRESS RELEASE

3th June, 2020 [Parliament House, Accra]

MINORITY STATEMENT ON THE TEMA MOTORWAY INTERCHANGE PROJECT

This may as well be the last opportunity for President Nana Akufo Addo within his four year mandate, to acknowledge and commend the sterling performance in the Roads sector by his predecessor, President John Mahama. This is perhaps one of the few he may have to do with few months to the next general elections to yield to the call for sincerity in politics, as daunting as it may have been since he assumed office on January 7, 2017.

On 5th June, 2020, I understand, there is a planned grand funfair to officially commission the newly constructed Tema Motorway Interchange. But by the time you read this piece, you will appreciate why I need to set the records straight about the product of former John Mahama’s Foresight and Vision.

In the area of infrastructure, it’s an open secret that the NDC is the Party of Infrastructure and President Mahama is the Captain of the Infrastructure Team.

President Akufo Addo cannot match the achievements of his predecessor, Many more appreciate the critical interventions President Mahama made in providing relevant social Infrastructural projects across all sectors. These investments augment Ghana’s socio-economic development.

The Meridian Port Services (MPS) Tema Port Expansion project, Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, the Kumasi and Tamale Airport Expansion projects, the newly built Ho Airport which has been left unused, the Volivo, Pokuase and Obetsebi Lamptey Interchanges, just to mention a few. It is evidently clear, that many of these projects provide opportunities for sustainable job creation, revenue to the State and improved standard of living.

Sadly, President Akufo Addo has consistently taken credit for strategic projects initiated by his predecessors and like the proverbial ostrich, turn round to accuse his ‘benefactor’ of incompetence, and simply plunging Ghana into an abyss. I cite the Pokuase, Obetsebi Lamptey Interchanges, Kotoka Terminal 3, and Phase II of the Kumasi Airport expansion project as examples.

It is the same shameful posture the President is seeking to exhibit with plans to take credit for the Tema Interchange Project.

For the avoidance of doubt, the following are facts on chronology of events in relation to the Tema Motorway Interchange.

John Mahama was implementing a Master Plan to ease congestion in our cities. In line with this, he initiated a plan to tie the MPS Port expansion Project with the Reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway with interchanges.

Meridian Port Service (MPS) proposed to carry out the Motorway reconstruction as part of the Port Expansion.

However, preparation for the Motorway component delayed. As a result, MPS decided to focus on its core mandate and went ahead with the port expansion project which is now completed and is in use. MPS however carried out some upgrading works at the Tema Motorway Roundabout as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. This was completed prior to the implementation of the current Tema Motorway Interchange.

Still focused on resolving the traffic constriction at the Tema end of the Motorway, President Mahama decided to seek donor support from the Japanese government. The concept involved a three-tier Interchange at the Tema end of the Motorway. The Japanese generously agreed to support Ghana and initiated the process of Building the Interchange.

For the avoidance of doubts, we must all be reminded of the sequence of events leading to the realization of this important project, these include but not limited to:

• On 01/09/2016 -Preparatory Survey Report (Draft Report) was submitted

• On November 2016-Design Outline Mission Team from JICA visits Ghana to validate the proposals and confirm support for the project.

• On 03/04/2017 - Preparatory Final Report submitted by CTI Engineering

• On 31/03/2017 - Grant Aid Agreement Signed. This signing is only Consequential since the project has already been approved.

• On 19/05/2017 - consultancy Agreement signed with CTI Engineering.

It must be on record that, in some cases, it takes up to 6 years for projects under JICA to become fully operational unless it is a phase of an ongoing project.

President Akufo-Addo must do the right thing for once. He must set the records straight by admitting he inherited this project fully funded and commend President John Mahama for initiating this project. All processes carried out from 2017 were all consequential. Starting Phase II of the Tema Motorway interchange before the end of this year will deliver the next phase of the project.

President Akufo Addo must be reminded that, Article 35(7) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution states....’as far as practicable, a government shall continue and execute projects and programmes commenced by the previous Government’... The intention of this particular clause is NOT to wish away the contributions of previous governments in relation to particular projects, in this case the Tema Motorway Interchange.

President Akufo-Addo MUST NOT pretend. He must and it’s a duty to give credit to President John Mahama.

Hon Kwame Agbodza.

Ranking Member, Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament