Asenso-Boakye criticises move to scale down Suame Interchange

Member of Parliament for Bantama and former Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has described the decision to reduce the Suame Interchange from a four-tier to a two-tier design as a major setback to Kumasi’s development.

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Hon. Asenso-Boakye explained that the original four-tier interchange was developed following extensive traffic modelling, engineering studies and long-term urban transport planning, aimed at addressing worsening congestion in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city and a key national transport corridor.

He noted that residents and businesses in areas such as Suame, Krofrom, Bantama, Abrepo, Anomangye and Magazine experience daily traffic congestion, leading to lost productivity, higher transport and fuel costs, increased accident risks and declining living standards.

According to him, a two-tier interchange would be insufficient and could simply shift congestion to other parts of the city.

The former Roads Minister warned that scaling down the project at this stage could have serious technical and financial implications, as detailed engineering designs for all four tiers had already been completed and foundation works commenced based on an integrated system.

He said the change could result in delays, cost overruns and contractual challenges.

Hon. Asenso-Boakye further questioned why the project, which had been classified under government’s “Big Push” infrastructure programme, was now facing funding-related constraints, especially when resources had been mobilised for other major road projects.

He called for infrastructure planning that prioritises long-term urban mobility and economic growth, stressing that under-designed transport projects often lock cities into congestion for decades.