PTC Interchange, other projects will be completed — Western Regional Minister

• Posted on March 1, 2023March 1, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Chiefs and residents of the area have been told by the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, that the PTC Interchange will be finished alongside other current projects.

This is in response to rumours that the contractor, Power China Sino-hydro Construction, may not finish the Takoradi PTC Interchange, which is now being built in the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi.

The three-tier, 30-month interchange project’s goal is to receive and reroute traffic to the formerly congested central business district.

The interchange is anticipated to improve Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis traffic flow and offer a smooth connection to other towns, districts, and other areas.

Many locals were concerned about the sudden stoppage of work, but the regional minister assured them that all government projects initiated by President Akufo-Addo would be finished.

“As we wait for the return of the contractor, everything is being done to ensure that the construction site, which is still receiving and distributing traffic in and out of the metropolis, is kept safe,” he said.

According to Mr Darko-Mensah, the regional office had taken note of the impending rainy season through the metropolitan and municipal assemblies to make sure that the sections fenced off did not fall onto the street, cause harm to pedestrians or the general public, or impede traffic.

According to him, the twin city and the surrounding area had developed into a thriving economic center with a variety of businesses, including banking, oil and gas, ports, logistics bays, insurance, and other financial services, necessitating the need for improved infrastructure to handle the demands.

He stated that the Chinese contractor will return to finish the project and that there were still further interchanges in Sekondi-Takoradi to be built, including one at the Paa-Grant Roundabout.

Market Circle

As a result of growing concern over being laid off due to financial difficulties, the contractor working on the redevelopment of the Takoradi Central Market has also slowed down work.

The contractor’s initial zeal for rehabilitation of the 100-year-old Takoradi Market Circle project has waned.

A small workforce is currently working on minimum tasks.

Messrs. are responsible for the reconstruction of the Takoradi Market Circle.

It is anticipated that Contracta Costruzioni Italia SLR will be finished this year, but there is no guarantee that will occur.

The Deutsche Bank S.p.An Italy is providing funding for the project, which will cost about €48 million.

In 2020, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the president, cut the sod for the construction.

Markets

“For the ease of doing business within the local communities and to improve trading activities in the region, 10 new markets are set for construction in the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies across the region aside from the Takoradi Central Market.

“With this, we expect that our traders and foodstuffs from the farms to the market will benefit with the creation of the perfect ambiance for business,” he said.

Work on the ongoing redevelopment of the Takoradi Central Market, popularly known as Market Circle, he said would come with more enhanced features expected of modern places designated for trading activities.

The first phase of the new market, he said, was almost done and that the facility promised to be the best and “a facility that adds up to our quest to position Sekondi-Takoradi and the region as the perfect place for doing business and I can assure the people that it will be completed”.

Water projects

The region, he said, had also been given 160 boreholes, “which are currently being constructed to help hard-to-reach areas have access to water, in line with SDG Goal 6”, adding, “Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need for health and well-being”.

The government, he said, would continue to touch and improve the quality of life of the people “we aside from all the challenges triggered by global issues will ensure that our people do not lack the basic needs to make life comfortable for the people.

“With our annual Christmas in the city, which goes beyond the usual festivities of masquerades – provides the perfect platform for business-to-business discussions during the celebration, already there are great results and we will continue to create the ambience and lingering business linkages,” he said.

For fire and other safety issues, he said 14 fire stations would be built and dedicated to all districts in the region.

The fire stations, Mr Darko-Mensah said had become more important owing to the increase in social and economic activities, and the movement of goods and services.

The fire stations are not just for extinguishing fires in the districts but also for protecting lives and property in the event of fires in their area and rescuing people in the event of a road traffic collision.

Other facilities

He said the fire station would also enable personnel to take proactive steps to identify and assess the full range of foreseeable fire and rescue-related risks their areas faced, make provision for prevention and protection activities and respond to incidents appropriately.

The region, aside from having social infrastructure development, is developing sports and other facilities.

“Aside from other completed sports facilities, 10 more AstroTurf are set to be constructed to cover every district in the region”.

The construction of these AstroTurf comes with sustainable features for other social engagements.

The Western Region, which continually maintains its place in the Ghana Premier League, would see the development of more talents through the provision of these sports facilities.

– Graphic