By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The French government has expressed satisfaction with the development projects executed within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area of the Ashanti region through funding provided by its agency, the French Agency for Development (AFD), that have begun yielding positive impacts on the lives of the people in the geographical area.
AFD’s Country Director for Ghana and Liberia, Christophe Cottet, who made the observation, disclosed that, subsequently, his agency has decided to bring on board many different development partners to provide more funding support for new projects in the transport sector to ease traveling difficulties commuters and motorists endure in their daily movement.
Mr. Cottet gave the assurance during an interaction with key officials of the Kumasi Metropolitan and Asokwa Municipal Assemblies as part of an assessment tour to project sites.
The French delegation was in the Ashanti region to assess the various projects executed by the then Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, which has now been demarcated into some municipalities, including Asokwa, under various project funding modules by AFD. Since the period of the previous NPP government, the French Government, through AFD, has provided financing support for different projects, mostly within the road transport and environmental sanitation sectors, aimed at addressing some of the major socio-economic difficulties faced by the residents.
Among these projects are the Urban Environmental Sanitation Project, Kumasi Roads, and Drainage Extension Project, which have both resulted in the construction of storm drains over the Subin and Sisa Rivers with vehicular and pedestrian bridges. The other projects include the Kumasi Roads and Urban Development Project. Under this project are the construction of the three point-seven-kilometre Oforikrom-Asokwa By-pass, involving an interchange at Asokwa and the Sokoban Wood Village, in addition to the Lake Road Improvement.
The latest of the completed projects is the dualization of the Ahinsan-Kyirapatre road with a modern Lorry Terminal at the Dompoase Junction.
The French delegation was first taken through a power point presentation that traced all the executed projects under funding by AFD to date and the empirical evidence of the benefits being derived by residents of Kumasi and Asokwa. AFD’s Country Director for Ghana and Liberia, Christophe Cottet, commended the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and Asokwa Municipal Assembly for the satisfactory application of the funds.
The Country Director then assured that the Agency will bring on board different development partners to support new projects in the transport subsector.
The delegation then went on an inspection tour of the newly constructed Ahinsan-Kyirapatre dual carriage, which has a new concrete bridge over the Sisa Drain, new traffic signals, and a modern lorry terminal at the Dompoase Junction. The new Lorry Terminal, which has provided for an Administration, toilet facilities, and seating for passenger waiting areas, is meant to provide commuters and motorists to and from the Atonsu Enclave with a better alternative to the privately run terminals dotted along the stretch.
However, it came to light during the visit that the targeted stakeholders have refused to use the facility for many months upon its completion and handover, as well as persuasion by the Asokwa Municipal Assembly. The Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive, Akwanuasah Gyimah, explained why the facility has become a white elephant so far.In his observation, the Deputy French Ambassador to Ghana, Julien Lecas, expressed satisfaction with the utilisation of the funds and the impact being made on the lives of residents of the two administrative areas in the Ashanti region.