The Director-General of the National Roads Authority (NRA), James Amoo-Gottfried, says the increase in the cost of constructing the well-known Flower Pot Interchange along the Spintex Road in the Greater Accra Region is due to an expanded scope of work.

According to him, the original work plan has changed, leading to the rise in costs.

“The initial scope was entirely different. It was to involve two overpasses: one over the Flower Pot roundabout and another across the motorway (Accra-Tema Motorway), totalling about 120 metres of bridge length. What we have now is about 1,022 metres of bridge length,” he explained.

“So, the scope as originally planned and what we have now is entirely different ” he said on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Wednesday, November 20.

Mr Amu’s clarification comes in response to a call by the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) for an explanation regarding the increase in construction costs.

Read also: Flower Pot Interchange: Explain how a GH¢69m project shot up to GH¢700m – Minority to gov’t

The Flower Pot Interchange project was awarded in 2016 for GH¢69.5 million by the previous NDC government. However, the project cost was revised to GH¢147 million in 2017 and has now neared GH¢1 billion under the Nana-Addo government.

It is one of the major infrastructure projects prioritised by the NPP government in the heart of the capital.

On Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the project.

This infrastructure aims to ease traffic congestion on the north and south corridors of the Tema Motorway, enhancing connectivity and improving travel times for commuters.

Read also: Flower Pot Interchange will ease traffic, but congestion may persist – Urban Roads director

The Flower Pot Interchange features an 802-metre dual carriageway viaduct with asphaltic concrete surfacing, a 140-metre ramp from Shiashie onto the viaduct towards Airport Hills, and an 80-metre ramp connecting the viaduct to the motorway towards Tema.