The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has clarified that the Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project was conceived and initiated under its administration before the change of government.

In a statement signed by Kennedy Nyarko Osei, Ranking Member on the Roads and Transportation Committee, the party said preparatory works and engagements with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) began as far back as March 2024.

According to the NPP, detailed technical assessments, project scoping, and discussions on financing were all completed before it left office.

“The Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project is not a new initiative of the present administration,” the statement said.

The party commended the current government for following through with the initiative, describing the decision as commendable and a demonstration of the value of sustaining projects that bring long-term benefits to citizens.

It explained that the project forms part of a broader strategy to fully dualise the Kumasi Inner Ring Road.

Under the plan, the Southern Bypass is expected to be dualised with grant support from the Government of Japan, while the Western Bypass will be addressed under the Sunyani Road Phase 2 project.

The NPP said the project’s objectives — to improve road capacity, reduce congestion, and enhance safety — were defined during its administration, laying the groundwork for the recent grant agreement announced by the Finance Minister.

“We hope the current government will continue to sustain and complete all the critical road infrastructure projects inherited from the NPP government, including the Suame Interchange, Sunyani Road Phase 2, and the Konongo Bypass,” the statement added.

The party emphasised that for residents of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region, what matters most is continuity, delivery, and improved livelihoods through better infrastructure.

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