At Long Last $2bn Sinohydro Project Takes Off

 By Adu Koranteng

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has launched the $2 billion Government of Ghana – SinoHydro Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA), and also cut the sod for the construction of the Tamale Interchange, the first interchange in the northern sector of the country. 

According to President Akufo-Addo, Ghana, through a barter arrangement, will have US$2 billion worth of priority infrastructure projects delivered across the country, in exchange for the delivery of Ghanaian manufactured q products to Sinohydro.

The barter arrangement has, thus, necessitated the establishment of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation, a statutory public corporation, to oversee the development of the exploitation of the full value chain of the country’s bauxite resources.

This, the President explained, is to guarantee that Ghana has a vibrant aluminium industry, “and ensure that we live up to our end of the barter transaction. This innovative arrangement, the first of its kind on the continent, is not going to add to our country’s total debt stock.”

The President made this known on Wednesday, 10th April, 2019, at the Jubilee Park, in Tamale, in the Northern Region.

Each of the sixteen (16) regions is set to benefit from the Sinohydro arrangement, with hospital projects, extension of electricity to rural communities, and construction of court and residential buildings for the Judicial Service, landfill sites and industrial parks, set to be undertaken.

The projects under Phase 1, which have been approved by Parliament, are as includes the construction of Accra Inner City Roads. A total of eighty-four (84) kilometres of roads located in Trobu, Anyaa-Sowutoum, Dome-Kwabenya, Adenta and Teshie will be constructed; construction of Kumasi and Mampong Inner City Roads. A total of one hundred (100) kilometres of inner-city roads will be constructed in Kumasi and Mampong. In Kumasi, the affected road networks are in Manhyia, Suame, Tafo Pankrono, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Oforikrom, Subin, Nhyiaeso and Bantama; construction of the Tamale Interchange.

Others include the construction of the PTC Roundabout Interchange, in Sekondi-Takoradi, the first interchange in the western part of our country; the Dualisation of the Adenta-Dodowa Road. Fourteen (14) kilometres of the Adenta-Dodowa Road will be dualised so as to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and reduce travel times on the corridor and the construction of Sunyani Inner City and Berekum Township Roads. A total of thirty-nine (39) kilometres of roads will be constructed in Sunyani and Berekum Township.

In Sunyani, twenty-nine (29) kilometres of inner-city roads will be constructed, whilst Berekum Township will see ten (10) kilometres of its roads constructed;

There will also be the construction of Prestea Township and Cape Coast Inner City Roads. A total of thirty-two (32) kilometres of roads will be constructed in Cape Coast and Prestea.

These projects, President Akufo-Addo explained, are to be implemented on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis, and will be completed within thirty (30) calendar months after commencement.

“Government is also ensuring that, in accordance with the local content law, a minimum of 30% of works will be undertaken by Ghanaian contractors, and supervised by Ghanaian consultants. Thousands and thousands of jobs will be created for our youth, our country will be opened up for sustained growth and development, and, thereby, help put Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity,” he added.

The President charged the Ministry of Roads and Highways and its implementing agencies to ensure that adequate and proper supervision is given to all the works being undertaken, guarantee that the country gets value for money, and ensure strict adherence to completion dates.

Whilst urging contractors to be mindful of the environmental protection laws of the country, and institute measures to mitigate against the negative health impacts the projects may have on citizens, President Akufo-Addo stressed that “I will not countenance any delays in the execution and delivery of the various infrastructural projects. Thirty (30) months is thirty (30) months.”

Under Phase 2 of the Sinohydro deal, which would come on stream after approval by Parliament, an additional 1,300 kilometres of roads, 3 interchanges, and 69 steel bridges will be constructed, at an estimated $850 million dollars.

Additional housing projects, rural electrification projects, industrial parks, hospitals, sanitation projects, and additional court and residential buildings for the Judicial Service, are components of phase 2.