President John Dramani Mahama has assured the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman of more development projects.
The President said his vision for the Ashanti Region was to complete the dualisation of the Accra-Kumasi road and expand all key road infrastructure projects.
Also, the completion of the Afari Military Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity Block, and Phase 2 of the Kejetia Market project.
He said feasibility studies would soon be carried out on the dualisation of the Accra-Kumasi Road, and that sod cutting for the construction works would be done early next year.
President Mahama said this during a courtesy call on him by Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the Presidency in Accra.
The Otumfuo, with his retinue was at the Presidency to congratulate President Mahama on his election victory in the December 7, 2024, general election and to return the President’s visit to Manhyia within the first two weeks of his assumption of office.
The President said Otumfuo’s presence at the Presidency with his beautiful and large retinue brought to bear the timeless wisdom of the Golden Stool, the integrity of his reign, and the collective dignity of the Asante Kingdom and the entire Chieftaincy Institution.
“We are deeply honoured to welcome you here today. Since your installation in April 1999, Your Majesty has distinguished yourself as a national icon of wisdom, of peace, and visionary leadership,” President Mahama said.
He said during his previous administration, they worked together to build the iconic Kejetia Market Phase 1, and several other satellite markets in the greater Kumasi area.
He said they expanded and upgraded the Kumasi International Airport and that they also started construction of several hospitals in Ashanti, including Sewua and Afari Ministry Hospitals, which sadly were abandoned by the previous administration over the last eight years.
President Mahama said his previous administration constructed several community day senior high schools in various parts of Ashanti, completed the 3K water project, which gave Konongo and Kumawu water, and reconstructed several roads in the Kumasi Metropolitan and surrounding districts.
The President said under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, they were once again about to start investments in major infrastructural projects across the country.
“And as the second most populous region in Ghana, Ashanti will not be left out. Your Majesty, I’m happy to report to you that we will soon undertake the feasibility study and design of the new Accra-Kumasi Expressway,” the President said.
“We hope to be able to cut the sword early next year for work on this transformational project to commence.”
He told Otumfuo that their intention was to continue and complete Phase 2 of the Kejetia market project, which had been affected by the debt exchange programme.
He said the Government would also commence construction of the Kumasi Outer Ring Road project, a project that takes a road around Kumasi through Ejisu and appears on the Mampongten and Techiman roads.
He said they would start the first quadrant to take big trucks through Ejisu to come out at Mampongten and onto the Techiman road, so that they don’t go through Kumasi City, thereby reducing the volume of traffic in the city.
President Mahama said work would soon start on extending the runway of the Prempeh International Airport in Kumasi to allow bigger wide-bodied aircraft to land and take off.
He said they would also undertake the Kumasi City traffic improvement programme, which would include completion of the Suame interchange and associated bridges.
On his part, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu hailed President Mahama for his humility, and he further urged him to keep on being humble.
He urged President Mahama to be bold and to do what he could to fulfill the mandate that the people of Ghana gave him.
Present at the meeting was Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
