President Commissions Phase II of the Tema Motorway Interchange.

Accra: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday commissioned the Tema Motorway Roundabout Phase II project, a major intersection connecting the capital city of Accra to the industrial city of Tema.According to Ghana News Agency, the facility, coming on the back of the recent inauguration of the Flowerpot and Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchanges, is designed to ease traffic congestion at the five-legged Tema intersection. It is one of the critical components of the rehabilitation and expansion of the 19.5-kilometer stretch encompassing the transformation of the Motorway into a modern 10-lane divided highway.President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of road infrastructure, stating, 'Road infrastructure is the backbone of the nation's progress,' and highlighted that upgrading Ghana's busiest Motorway is essential for accelerated socio-economic advancement. The Accra-Tema Motorway has been a crucial route for nearly six decades, linking the industrial city to other parts of the country and the West Afric an sub-region.The Tema Motorway Roundabout Phase II project, which commenced in July 2022, aims to enhance urban mobility, logistics, and trade integration in the Greater Accra Region, as well as the West African economic bloc, ECOWAS. Following a preparatory survey by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Phase One converted the roundabout into a two-tier intersection and was completed ahead of schedule in June 2020. The second phase involved constructing a third-tier flyover to alleviate the traffic burden at the intersection.The entire Motorway rehabilitation project's scope includes the rehabilitation of three critical sections: the Accra-Tema Motorway, the George Walker Bush Highway, and the Nsawam Road. Both Phase One and Phase Two were funded by a Japanese grant of 91 million dollars.President Akufo-Addo indicated that the objective was to remove bottlenecks on the major highways to facilitate regional trade and economic integration. 'These projects are part of a deliberate policy to decentralise economic opportunities and ensure equitable development across the nation. From the Pokuase Interchange, the largest in West Africa, to the Tamale Interchange, the first of its kind in northern Ghana, we have worked tirelessly to open up our country, reduce disparities, and empower communities,' he emphasised.The Government, the President said, had laid the foundation for a resilient, economically vibrant, and inclusive Ghana, touting his administration's successes in education, healthcare, among others. The World Bank, in a 2023 report, noted that rapid increases in population and vehicle ownership had led to unsustainable commuting times and deteriorating air quality in most developing countries. 'The impacts of highway construction are procompetitive in both output and input markets, increasing labour's share of income by about 1.8 to 2.3 percentage points,' according to the global apex financial body. It added that urban transportation systems played a key role in shaping the growth and dev elopment of cities.Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Roads and Highways, lauded the Japanese Government for its support in completing the project. He assured the public that the government was committed to improving road conditions linking the Tema Motorway Interchange, including the Tema Aflao road.