KMA Receives 40 million Euros From French Government

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has received an amount of 40 million Euros from the French Government for the completion of two major physical projects in the metropolis The projects are the Lake Road to be extended from Ahinsan to Kyirapatre, while the Sessai storm drain will as well be extended by two-point-five kilometers to put to rest the perennial canker of flooding in parts of the metropolis during the rainy season. The outgoing Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Samuel Sarpong disclosed this at a consultative meeting between the project consultants and residents to b e affected by the project. The meeting was to officially inform the people of the project as well as for the officials to take into consideration, concerns and suggestions of the residents in the preparation of the final designs. Mr. Sarpong explained to the people that the earlier Oforikrom-Asokwa interchange and by-pass, as well as the Sessai storm drains project could not go beyond where they ended because the 27 million Euros provided by the French Government and supplemented by the Government of Ghana was not enough. He indicated that the road extension will provide for an expanded bridge over the Sessai River at Atonsu, while the Asokwa-Georgia Hotel by-pass will involve the construction of two bridges and a re-designing of the Ahodwo roundabout. Mr. Sarpong, who has been nominated by President Mahama as the next Ashanti Regional Minister, was hopeful that completion of the project would significantly reduce vehicular congestion on the concerned roads and also the perennial flooding in parts of the metropolis. The Director of the KMA�s Waste Management Department, Anthony Mensah said preliminary designs of the project is ready and that the actual construction would start in the last quarter of this year. According to Mr. Mensah, the project will include an additional by-pass from Kaasi to Atonsu to reduce the congestion on the main road as well as traveling time to Atonsu and its environs.