Ghana's roads boosted by $500m Chinese loan

Date: 5/12/2012

A number of roads and highways in Ghana will be improved thanks to funding from the China Development Bank.

Over $500 million (£310 million) has been earmarked for projects around the West African country, according to Ghanaian Minister for Roads and Highways Joe Gidisu.

He said that three road networks will be worked on in order to accelerate road infrastructure development to help open up the country's economy.

Among the projects will be improvements to roads around the oil and gas enclave in the south-western part of the country, which will receive funding of $112.74 million. A link between the beach road in the capital and the port city of Tema will have $234 million spent on it.

Around $180 million has also been put aside for the bitumen resurfacing of a 400 kilometre gravel road and the gravelling of a 300 kilometre earth road.

The China Daily reported that Ghana had looked at almost 400 road projects this year in the hope of improving its infrastructure, although it will require more financing if it is to be successful in carrying out the work.

A road toll was introduced to raise funds for maintenance, which is helping to sustain the project.

Speaking about the Chinese Development Bank loan, Mr Gidisu told reporters that "this is to improve access roads under the Eastern Corridor Multimodal Transportation Project."

Ghana has a history of securing funding from around the globe, with the African Development Bank, Saudi Fund and Agence Francaise de Development all helping to provide the money for road projects to go ahead.

Recently, Mr Gidisu announced that the country's cabinet has approved the build, operation and transfer arrangement for the dualisation of the Accra-Kumasi trunk road. The plans are now being looked at by parliament prior to the final sign off.

He also told reporters that a contract for the financing, design, construction and maintenance of an overpass on the motorway at Teshie Link had been agreed with Link Infrastructure Company.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News