Pokuase Interchange and local training

A 4-Tier stacked Interchange that cut journey times from two hours to thirty minutes and road accidents by 40%.

This interchange on the National Route N6 involves a 9km dual carriageway with service lanes and over 15km of local roads. It improves mobility on the Accra-Nsawam section of the Accra-Kumasi Highway and has boosted business investment and employment opportunities for the 200,000 local population.

The dramatic reduction in heavy congestion reduces carbon emissions from slow moving and stationary traffic, while the Construction also included the fencing of the Gua Sacred Forest; a historical site. The forest serves as a reservoir for flood waters from the surrounding Pokuase hills, which reduces flooding down stream of the Interchange area.

The project also included the construction of over 7km storm water drainage channels which has helped save residents who experienced severe flooding before the construction of the interchange and ancillary works.

To strengthen the ability of local people to capitalise on improved economic opportunities brought by the interchange, ICT training was provided in 14 local schools. This saw 10,000 pupils train at newly furnished ICT labs, with more than half of the pupils being girls.

To further women’s opportunities, the project also worked to support two local women’s groups in using ICT and developing their microbusinesses in processing and packaging their products for export. These women groups train and build capacity for more than 250 women.

Additionally, a long-term urban development strategic plan (the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Masterplan) was undertaken in partnership the local municipalities to provide a common platform to develop integrated and collaborative decision-making tools for city planning and management in support of the SDGs.