The long-awaited three-tier PTC Interchange in Takoradi, Western Region, is fast becoming a fading dream.
Initially promised to transform the region’s infrastructure, the project has been at a standstill, with delays and financial setbacks derailing its completion.
In September 2020, ahead of the general elections, the government ceremonially broke ground to officially commence work on the interchange at the Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout.
However, it wasn’t until 10 months later, after several public protests, that actual construction began. The project, which was slated for completion by the second quarter of 2023, has now been dormant for nearly a year and a half.
On January 15, 2023, Sino-Hydro, the Chinese contractors responsible for the project, halted all construction activity and abandoned the site.
This was due to the suspension of creditor support during ongoing negotiations between the Ghanaian government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since then, no significant progress has been made, and the site remains deserted.
A recent visit to the location showed workers removing materials from the site some of the materials seen being conveyed from the site include iron rods, gas cylinders and scaffolders. This signals further uncertainty regarding the project’s future.
Oscar Tawiah, the foreman for Sino-Hydro, confirmed that financial constraints have forced the removal of equipment.
“We are packing up everything because the Ghanaian government has not fulfilled its financial obligations to the Chinese government,” Tawiah said. “We are doing a total clearing because the funds expected from the Ghanaian side have not been paid, and it has been a long time.”
Tawiah also dispelled rumors that the materials were being removed due to theft concerns, emphasizing that security personnel have been guarding the site around the clock. “This isn’t about theft,” he explained.
“The project has simply been suspended, and we can no longer maintain a presence here without the necessary funds we are sending these materials to our office at Funko to be used for other works.”
As the project remains in limbo, the people of Takoradi are left wondering when, if ever, the much-anticipated interchange will become a reality.
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