Kwame Nkrumah reborn; As Urban Roads deliver interchange

The name Kwame Nkrumah resonates far and near, and one of the reasons is the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, usually on the lips of many using the host of lorry terminals there to transit from one area to another in Accra or even other parts of the country.
The circle has been demolished and in its stead will be a three-tier interchange to provide a befitting memorial to Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

But, more importantly, the three-tier interchange will ease the mounting gridlock and give motorists freedom and ease of transportation, perhaps the kind of freedom the former first President had dreamt for this country.

Significance of the circle

The Kwame Nkrumah Circle is one of the three most congested areas in Accra.

Constructed in the 1960s, the circle provided a link to the west through the Ring Road West, the east via the Ring Road East, north of Accra through the Nsawam Road and the south through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

Landmarks around the circle

The Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) Tower is perhaps the most conspicuous high-rise building around the Nkrumah Circle enclave.

A recent but equally visible landmark in the area is the Pedestrian Shopping Mall built by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for hawkers.

Vodafon’s head office and the Ernest Chemists building are also located close to the circle.

Lorry terminals at Circle

The state-owned transport operator, the State Transport Company (STC), VIP Transport, the Neoplan Station, which are quite synonymous with the circle, and many other transport terminals are all located around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The new project

Queiroz Galvao, a Brazilian company, is undertaking the construction of the 74 million euros interchange.

The new design

The Ring Road, of which the Kwame Nkrumah Circle is part, was constructed in the 1960s and its capacity, according to the Director of Urban Roads, Mr Abass Awolu, had been exceeded since the late 1990s.

The first level flyover of the new project will be between the Akasanoma Road, towards the Accra Newtown Junction on the Nsawam Road, as well as from the Newtown Junction on the Nsawam Road to the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue around PTC in the opposite direction.

The second level flyover is on the Ring Road between the Fanofa Bridge and Feo Oyo and connects the Ring Road Central to the Ring Road West.

The ground level has a roundabout at the existing circle.

The Ring Road flyover also lifts the Ring Road above the Odaw River and the rail line. This allows for pedestrian and public transport operations on the ground level.

It should improve pedestrian safety and reduce accidents in the area, Mr Awolu stated.

By Naa Lamiley Bentil/Daily Graphic/Ghana
Writers email: [email protected]