News
Reducing Suame Interchange to two tiers a setback for Kumasi – Asenso Boakye
The Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency, Francis Asenso Boakye, has raised strong concerns over plans to reduce the Suame Interchange from a four tier design to a two tier structure, describing the move as a major setback for Kumasi and the country.
In a facebook post he stated that, the original four tier design was not chosen for political or visual reasons.
He explained that it was based on detailed traffic studies, engineering analysis and long term urban planning to deal with heavy and growing congestion in Kumasi, which remains Ghana’s second largest city and an important transport centre.
He pointed out that areas such as Suame, Krofrom, Bantama, Abrepo, Anomangye and Magazine already face daily traffic jams that waste time, increase fuel and transport costs, raise accident risks and reduce the quality of life for residents and businesses.
In his view, a two tier interchange will not solve these problems but will only shift congestion from one point to another and turn the project into an expensive bottleneck.
Mr Asenso Boakye stressed that engineering designs for all four tiers have already been completed and that foundation works started based on a full integrated system.
He warned that scaling down the project at this stage could lead to delays, higher costs, contractual challenges and long term technical problems.
He questioned the funding argument being used to justify the change. He noted that government was able to mobilise funds for other major road projects and even classified the Suame Interchange under the Big Push programme.
For that reason, he argued that Kumasi should not be short changed under what he described as selective financial constraints.
The Bantama MP urged authorities to look beyond short term decisions when planning infrastructure.
He explained that in urban transport, under designing projects often causes more harm than doing nothing at all, because cities end up struggling with congestion for decades.
He maintained that Kumasi deserves infrastructure that matches its national importance, adding that the city needs forward looking investments that meet current needs and support future growth, rather than what he described as half solutions.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
