President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has officially inaugurated the Flowerpot Interchange, a significant infrastructure project designed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity between the northern and southern sections of the Accra-Tema Motorway.
Constructed by China Railway Engineering Ghana, the interchange includes an 802-meter dual carriageway with a modern overpass at the Spintex Road Flowerpot Roundabout.
“This project is a critical step toward addressing the traffic challenges faced by up to 5,000 vehicles per hour during peak periods,” President Akufo-Addo remarked during the ceremony.
Key features of the interchange
The Flowerpot Interchange boasts several advanced features, including, an 80-meter ramp connecting the viaduct to the Motorway towards Tema, a140-meter ramp from Shiashie to the viaduct heading towards Airport Hills.
A new road through the old East-Legon tunnel and a 200-meter road linking Cantonments to the Giffard Road Interchange, and additional amenities include pedestrian walkways, cycling lanes, crash barriers, streetlights, traffic signals, and public facilities such as a fire station and police post.
Addressing Accra’s growing urbanization
Accra, recognized as one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, faces increasing demand for improved infrastructure due to rapid urbanization.
With a population exceeding four million and 2.5 million daily business commuters, the city’s road network is critical to its socio-economic development.
The UN projects that Accra’s population could rise to 9.6 million by 2050, further highlighting the need for robust infrastructure.
A broader vision for infrastructure
The Flowerpot Interchange is part of a broader infrastructure expansion under President Akufo-Addo’s administration. Other notable road projects completed in Accra include the four-tier Pokuase Interchange, the first of its kind in West Africa.
Others include the Borteyman road network, the Tema Motorway Phase One, the East-Legon Underpass.
Work is also ongoing on critical projects such as the Obetsebi Lamptey and Tema Motorway Interchanges and the Adentan-Dodowa road network.
Nationwide interchange projects in progress
President Akufo-Addo revealed that 14 additional interchange projects are underway across the country, demonstrating the administration’s resolve to enhance Ghana’s transportation infrastructure.
“We are building a new Ghana, a nation that works for everyone,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of road networks for socio-economic growth.
Public responsibility in safeguarding infrastructure
Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Roads and Highways, urged the public to refrain from erecting unauthorized structures along the intersections and medians of the newly constructed interchange.
“Maintaining this infrastructure is a collective responsibility,” he noted.
A legacy of growth and connectivity
The Flowerpot Interchange stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to addressing urban challenges and fostering economic growth through improved infrastructure.
By prioritizing such projects, the administration is laying the foundation for a more connected and economically vibrant Ghana.
