The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended government for following through with the Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project, but insists that credit must be given where it is due.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member on the Committee on Roads and Transportation, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, the NPP said while the decision to continue the project is commendable, it is important to set the record straight about its origins.

According to the statement, preparatory works and engagements with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) began as far back as March 2024 under the leadership of the NPP government.

It said detailed technical assessments, project scoping, and discussions on financing were all completed before the change of administration.

“The decision to follow through is commendable and demonstrates the value of sustaining initiatives that bring long-term benefits to our people,” the statement read.

“That said, it is important to set the record straight for the public.”

The NPP explained that the Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project was conceived as part of a broader plan to fully dualise the Kumasi Inner Ring Road, with the Southern Bypass also expected to be dualised through grant support from Japan, and the Western Bypass addressed under the Sunyani Road Phase 2 project.

It added that the objectives of the project—to improve road capacity, reduce congestion, and enhance safety—were clearly defined during the previous administration, which laid the groundwork for the current grant agreement being announced by the Finance Minister.

The statement further expressed hope that the government would continue to sustain and complete all the critical road infrastructure projects inherited from the NPP, including the Suame Interchange, Sunyani Road Phase 2, and the Konongo Bypass.

“For the people of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region, what matters most is continuity, delivery, and the improvement of lives through better infrastructure,” the statement said.

“This project is an excellent example of how government, irrespective of political party, must ensure that well-designed initiatives are seen through to completion.”