Minister Agbodza Signals Completion of Suame Interchange Phase 2 as Prisons Service Reports Rising Congestion

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced that Phase 2 of the Suame Interchange project in the Ashanti Region is nearing completion and is expected to be opened to traffic by late October. During a recent inspection, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the GH₵3 billion project, which is currently 87% complete. The initiative is designed to significantly alleviate the chronic traffic congestion that has long plagued motorists in Kumasi, with officials aiming to have the new routes fully operational before the upcoming Christmas season.

Technical details provided by Resident Engineer Dennis Kusi Boateng indicate that the second phase includes the construction of three major overpasses at Anoamangye, Maakro, and Abusuakruwa. Additionally, the widening of the Offinso Road (N10) into a dual carriageway is approximately 77% finished. While the work has progressed steadily, the project team has encountered challenges such as the vandalism of construction materials and the necessity of further structure demolitions to clear the right-of-way. Once Phase 2 is commissioned, construction focus will shift to Phase 1, which has an estimated completion date of 2028.

Parallel to these infrastructure developments, the Ghana Prisons Service is addressing a growing crisis within the nation's correctional system. Director-General Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie reported that Ghana's prisons are currently 23% over-congested, housing approximately 13,000 inmates—a figure that significantly exceeds the authorized capacity of the facilities. To manage this pressure, the Service is coordinating inmate transfers and working closely with justice sector institutions through the Justice for All Programme to review remand cases and facilitate the release of eligible prisoners.

In response to these challenges, the Prisons Service has introduced the "Think Prisons 360 Degrees" initiative, which seeks to open correctional facilities to the public and strengthen inmate reintegration efforts. Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie highlighted the expansion of prison farms and vocational training programs as essential components of the current reform agenda. These programs are intended to provide inmates with productive skills and reduce recidivism, ensuring that the prison system balances security with effective rehabilitation as the government continues to invest in both national infrastructure and social justice reform.