The Minority Caucus in Parliament has disclosed that the processes for the Kumasi Inner Ring Road improvement project were started by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government with the support of the Japanese government.
In a statement issued by the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transportation Committee of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei, the Minority commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for continuing with the project.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent publications announcing the signing of a grant agreement with the Government of Japan (through JICA) for the improvement of sections of the Kumasi Inner Ring Road.
“First and foremost, we commend the current government for continuing with this important project. The decision to follow through is commendable and demonstrates the value of sustaining initiatives that bring long-term benefits to our people.
“That said, it is important to set the record straight for the public.
“The Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project is not a new initiative of the present administration. Preparatory works and engagements with JICA began as far back as March 2024 under the leadership of the NPP government.
“Detailed technical assessments, project scoping, and discussions on financing were all completed before the change of administration.
“The project has always been conceived as part of a broader strategy to fully dualise the Kumasi Inner Ring Road, with the Southern Bypass to also be dualised with grant support from the Government of Japan, and the Western Bypass addressed under the Sunyani Road Phase 2 project.
“The objectives of the project, to improve road capacity, reduce congestion, and enhance safety, were clearly defined during the previous administration, which laid the groundwork for the agreement being announced by the Finance Minister.
“It is our hope that the current government will continue to sustain and complete all the critical road infrastructure projects inherited from the NPP government, including the Suame Interchange, Sunyani Road Phase 2, and the Konongo Bypass.
“For the people of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region, what matters most is continuity, delivery, and the improvement of lives through better infrastructure.
“This project is an excellent example of how government, irrespective of political party, must ensure that well-designed initiatives are seen through to completion,” the Minority group concluded in the statement.
By Collins Adu-Gyamfi
