EXPOSING AFAG AS TRUTH AND INTEGRITY IS THROWN TO THE DOGS One of the cardinal components of a serious group is the desire to consciously stand by the truth in order to project and protect integrity in the eyes of the public. We woke up some few days ago with absolute loud voices across the city of an intended demonstration by AFAG a surrogate arm of the NPP as was sighted in an intercepted document from the NPP. Today, as this post is being written, this body is gathering at the Obra Spot where a projected number of 150,000 demonstrators are expected in a demonstration dubbed Agbee wo (They are killing us). One of the major issues raised by this apology group of the NPP is that the cost of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange project as well as the proposed Kasoa interchange have been bloated in an attempt by the government to loot from the people of Ghana. This piece is to lay the facts bare and to expose the hypocrisy of AFAG and its allied bodies. I would take you through comparison of costs in relation to the construction of the N1 (George Walker Bush Highway) which was their reference point and the Kasoa and Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchanges. Here we go: ●The N1 Highway was divided into two lots. Lot1 and Lot2. Lot1 was the stretch between Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout including the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange itself and Apenkwa Overpass (Known as Achimota Overhead). The stretch was a 5.3 kilometers ONLY. It was projected to cost Ghanaians $23 million. By the time that stretch was completed, actual cost to the Ghanaian was recorded at $59.4 million. An additional of $36.4 was used to compete the said stretch which was projected at $23 dollars. ●Lot2 was to see to the construction of the stretch between Apenkwa and Mallam Junction. The total distance covered is 8.3 kilometers. The initial project cost projected was $83.7 million. Actually cost after completion of the stretch between Apenkwa and Mallam Junction was 127.5 million. A leap of about $43.8 million. ●In effect, the total cost of an estimated cost of a project of $106 million shot to $186.9 million. A bloat to use AFAG words of $80.9 million. ●The total cost of construction of the N1 Highway mysteriously rose to $219 million. This is EXCLUSIVE of the cost of re-location which was GHC57.6 million ($42.4 million) at the time. ●The following were however not included in all of these and the Ghana government now has to find the resources to add: •Provision of adequate signage on the road •Side roads are yet to be developed (Lapaz, Nyamekye, Kwashieman, Santa Maria etc.) to include the safety issues on the route. KASOA INTERCHANGE: Construction of Kasoa Interchange and other related works. SCOPE OF WORK: ●Construction of 3 new interchanges on the main Accra-Cape Coast road at the following locations: •Main Kasoa traffic light •Galeli/Iron City to link Iron City to Amanfrom to avoid U-Turns on the main road. •Universal/CO Junction to link Universal and Opekumah ●Widening of main Accra-Cape Coast between Iron City and universal; distance of 6 kilometers to 3-lane dual carriage way. With sleep roads and ramps. ●Construction of Amasaman-Ashaladza-Obum road, a distance of 33 kilometers into asphaltic concrete road with a bridge across the river Dansu to replace the current bridge. The construction of the Amasaman road would provide an alternative road to Nsawam and the Eastern part of Accra. ●Construction of 20 kilometers of roads within Kasoa and Ga South. ●Construction of critical drainage systems in Kasoa and Ga South. ●Construction of 2 new storied Polyclinics for Kasoa. This polytechnics would have OPDs, Doctors Consulting Rooms, Pharmacies, and Intensive Care Units etc. ● Construction of 4 new 36-unit schools to help eliminate the shift system in the area. ●Provision of 10 new mechanised boreholes for selected communities. ●Construction of BRT transport terminal in Kasoa. This is what makes up the cost of construction of the Kasoa Interchange of €174. KWAME NKRUMAH CIRCLE INTERCHANGE: This project is targeted at reducing the perennial traffic congestion at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Since 1999, the traffic flow at Circle was identified as having exceeded its capacity. The location of stations at the area have contributed massively to the congestion at the roundabout. SCOPE OF WORK: ●Construction of the main Nkrumah Interchange at Circle. ●Construction of the Ring Road Flyover and anciliary works. ●Separating the intersections that connects to the Nkrumah Circle. There are five (5) routes that connect into the main Circle Roundabout. These are Akasanoma and Nsawam roads, Nkrumah Avenue, Ring Road Central and Ring Road West. ●First-level-grade separated interchange to allow pedestrians use the ground level. ●Ring Roads would be constructed as third tier interchanges to reduce the impact of the railway line and enable traffic flow on the Ring Road which would be above the Railway. ●Construction of 3 bridges across the Odor River . That heights are such that small boats could use the Odor River in the future. Two of the bridges shall replace the existing two bridges that are old and structurall unsound. The third bridge would link the Odornaa Bridge to the Neoplan Station and allow the Trotros direct access to Avenor etc. ●The construction of the interchanges would include the construction of bridges and ramps. These bridges type is Steel Composite bridge to enable ease of construction and long life span. ●Other roads to be rehabilitated are: •Kente Street •Akasanoma road •Fara Avenue ●Included are: •Construction of the road between New Times and TV Africa. •Construction of the road between Ringway Central and Ringway West - 3 kilometers into 3-dual carriage way. •Construction of a BRT terminal • Rehabilitation of Odornaa and Neoplan Stations as was done at Achimota. •Construction of a Police Post •Construction of Fire Service Post •Ambulance Station. Total Cost of the Works at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange is €78 million With all the above, it stands to reason that the team leading the demonstration today on grounds of inflated project costs in the aforementioned projects are indeed lame and have absolutely no basis for embarking on this rather unfortunate venture. Truth, Integrity and Conscience must always be our guide in politics. With these, our future as a nation would look brighter. .......
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:35:32 +0000
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