MPs want Tema Motorway redesigned

Members of Parliament have tasked the Road Transport Ministry and its agencies to have a second look at the design of the Accra-Tema Motorway with a view to redesigning it to suit current needs.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday, David Oppong -Kusi (NPP- Ofoase\ Ayirebi) told the House that the Tema Motorway was constructed as a special facility to link the Tema Port to the capital city to provide free way for goods at a time when both the Tema and Accra cities were completely different settlements.

The situation he said, has however changed now as the number of persons who live at both settlements and nearby suburbs have increased dramatically; the motorway can no longer be considered as a special facility.

"There is the need therefore to debate on the topic to draw the attention of authorities to modify the design of the road to include bye-lanes, signalised intersections, service roads, walkways and other safety measures to allow it not only to serve the port and factories but also those living around the Tema, Accra and the other banks of the roads.

“Mr Speaker the current emotional discussions on maintaining the road within the confines of its original objectives only serve to frustrate the manager of the road. I have been prompted to bring this issue up so that public discussions will be moved from the narrow confines which is more of an emotional attachment to an old motorway than an assessment of the practical realities of the current land use pattern”, he stressed.

The Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin, who agreed with his colleague, stated that by modifying the road, the illegal use of the motorway by persons who live at Lashibi, Ashaiman, East Legon and its environs due to heavy traffic on other roads will cease.

He however indicated that he is aware of plans to modify the road by constructing two more overpasses, and urged the Road Transport Ministry to make resources available to expedite action.

Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP- Komenda\Edina\Eguafo\Abrem) advised that any modifications should make safety a prime consideration to ensure that its planning and implementation is done appropriately. “We must not make haste and face difficulties later,” he added.

Acting Road Transport Minister Felix Owusu-Adjapong, confirmed that plans were in the pipeline to modify the motorway but his ministry lacked the requisite finance to undertake such a project now.