The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has announced plans to release funds this week to settle outstanding payments owed to the contractor on the Suame Interchange project.
He explained that the move follows authorisation from the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, allowing the Roads Ministry to disburse the funds and clear the backlog. The amount, estimated at over $23 million, represents full settlement for certified works already completed but previously unpaid.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on Friday, March 27, the Minister said the payment is expected to prompt the contractor’s immediate return to the site and accelerate progress on the project.
“The project stalled, and the first reason for its stalling is that the contractor raised a certificate of almost $24 million and was not paid before the 2024 election. The Finance Minister has given authorisation.
“Sometime this week, they should receive the full payment for all the outstanding work done that was not paid for. What it will mean is that the contractor can go back quickly to the site and work, which is over $23 million,” he stated.
The Suame Interchange, a key infrastructure project in the Ashanti Region, is intended to ease congestion along one of Kumasi’s busiest industrial and commercial corridors. However, nearly four years into construction, progress has been slow, largely due to funding challenges and delayed payments.
The prolonged construction has disrupted local economic activity, with traders, artisans, and commuters bearing the brunt. Dust from heavy vehicular traffic poses health risks, while reduced accessibility continues to affect business operations in the area.
