Three conflicting, intriguing, but sad reasons have been assigned to recent events at the three-tier interchange in Takoradi, in the Western Region.This week, residents of Sekondi-Takoradi woke up to witness parts of the three-tier interchange being disassembled.Iron rods and a long stretch of scaffolding supporting arms of the interchange were being torn apart by workers of the Chinese contractor Sino-Hydro, under watchful supervision.In an interview with ConnectNews, Richard Asamoah-Mensah, General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union of TUC Ghana, was categorical that "incessant thievery" of materials had caused the contractor to take action."The items are needed in Kumasi for an active project… these ones are dormant for now, and people are stealing them," he told Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson.Earlier, it was rumored that the Chinese contractor was packing out because the government had violated the terms of the contract for the project.However, in another account, Western Region Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, on Friday, October 18, dismissed the rumors and told another Takoradi-based radio station that "a local contractor" has been scheduled to work there."Kingspok, who did the road in the arm towards Kwesimentsim, has been contracted to do the other roads…"He added that the "scaffolding is being removed to allow the contractor space to work on the road."He also mentioned that the iron rods had become rusty over time and were no longer safe.But the foreman for the project, Oscar Tawiah, provided a rather intriguing account of what was happening with the project, which had once been touted to "change the architectural landscape" of the twin city.
His version contrasts with that of the Regional Minister and the TUC representative.He told ConnectNews' Stephen Cudjoe that the Chinese contractor was indeed behind the dismemberment of the metal planks.
His account confirmed earlier rumors of financial challenges."We are packing up everything because the Ghanaian government has not fulfilled its financial obligations to the Chinese government," Tawiah said.He added, "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."The foreman dismissed the claim that the m aterials were being removed due to theft, insisting that there was robust security in place to prevent such occurrences.The three-tier PTC Interchange, a 30-month project, was scheduled for completion in July this year.
The project, the first of its kind in the Western Region, is being financed through the Master Project Support Agreement between Ghana and the Chinese government, undertaken by the Sinohydro Corporation under a barter trade agreement.It had to be suspended in January this year following a general announcement by the Finance Ministry that some projects might be reprioritized.Read also:Stalled Takoradi Interchange Project: Hopes fade as contractor packs out from siteEric Yaw Adjei