Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange 92% complete, James Town Fishing Harbour 15% done, say engineers

The Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange in Accra, construction of which began in October 2019 after the President Akufo-Addo cut the sod, is roughly 92% complete.

Funding for the US$135 million project was secured by the Akufo-Addo government and made possible by export credit facilities from the United Kingdom and Spain.

The Obetsebi Interchange is located at the intersection of the Ring Road, Graphic Road and the Accra-Winneba Road. It has been a congested location for a very long time and a major source of worry to commuters passing through central Accra.

In addition, the location has experienced perennial flooding because of the inadequate capacity of the old storm-water channels.

For this and other reasons the government of Ghana has sought to improve the capacity of the road through grade separation of the intersection and provision of additional storm-water channels.

According to engineers on site, the project entails the construction of an overpass above the intersection running from east to west and the improvement of the drainage system in the vicinity. It also includes the relocation of all public utilities along the corridor, including electricity cables, Ghana Water Company lines and telecommunications infrastructure.

The second phase of the project, they told the president, will include the construction of an overpass running from north to south and the improvement of critical arterial roads.

James Town Fishing Harbour

President Akufo-Addo also inspected ongoing work on the James Town Fishing Port project, which has been made possible by a grant from the People’s Republic of China to the tune of US$48 million.

The project entails revamping the old James Town Fishing Harbour enclave into a fishing port complex with additional facilities.

The works being undertaken include the renovation of the old breakwater and construction of a new section running to roughly 500 metres; dredging of the harbour basin to depths of up to five metres for inshore outboard-motorised boats and canoes; and the construction of a boat repair workshop and shed, including a mechanical repair workshop area and cradle platforms.

There will also be a new daycare centre with space for about 60 pupils, all children of fisherfolk. Provision has been made for a cold store and mid-level fish processing facilities, including all the essential utilities and services – water, electricity, parking, driveways and office space for administrative staff.

The project’s physical works began with the construction of a temporary area, near the Korle outfall, westwards form the James Town Harbour site, to relocate all the fisherfolk into the temporary area. Temporary work included earthworks, and construction of a breakwater to protect canoes and prevent the influx of floating debris from the Odaw/Korle systems.

So far, the contractor has completed major site preparation works, set up temporary site offices, mobilised the required staff and equipment, demolished a substantial part of the fishing port area with concrete and commenced brisk work on the foundations.

Breakwater construction is ongoing. The approximate global level of progress of works on the harbour as of 30 September was 15%.

Wilberforce Asare / Asaase Radio

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