Management of the Beijing Everyway Traffic and Lighting Technology Company Limited, the entity previously contracted to implement the Accra intelligent traffic management project has hinted that it will file a suit against the Government of Ghana in the London court of international arbitration
The company was contracted in 2018 to implement the project worth 100 million dollars after Parliament’s approval.
The implementation agency for the project was the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
But on Friday the Bill was re-laid before Parliament but this time with a contract agreement which is between the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of National Security, Huawei Technologies Company Limited and the China National Import and Export Corporation.
The Bill was passed on Saturday under a certificate of urgency.
Management of Beijing issues statement
Beijing Everyway in a statement indicated that it passed due diligence by all relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Roads, Ghana Embassy in China, China Development Bank, and various Chinese government agencies.
The company added that it was given the clearance to commence the project by both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Roads in 2019.
Based on that the Beijing Everyway said it had submitted a 10 million dollars of Performance Security to the Ministry and shipped over 50 containers of goods to Ghana for the implementation of the project.
Beijing Everyway revealed that it has since been on-site for the civil works and installation.
This the company said led to the Ministry of Road and Highways certifying a 17 million dollars payment certificate for it.
Sector ministry begins executing traffic management project
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Roads and Highways began the implementation of the Accra Areawide Traffic Intelligent System to help reduce traffic congestion in the capital city.
The system relies on a coordinated traffic signal system with digitised traffic lights and a centralised control centre where all traffic signals will be monitored and controlled to improve traffic flow, trip reliability and road safety.
This means that all traffic lights across the city, including the newly deployed ones with artificial intelligence capabilities, will be managed from a Traffic Management Centre, where traffic on vital corridors and intersections in the city will be examined.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta, inaugurated two of the areawide traffic intelligent systems in Accra on February 2020.
They were the Kanda Highway/Castle Road and the Starlet 91/Nationalism Park (close to the Accra Stadium) traffic lights. Mr Amoako-Atta said the project was being implemented in two phases.
He said the first phase, which includes the operationalisation of 44 signalised intersections on the Amasaman/central business district of Accra corridor and the construction of the Traffic Management Centre, was completed in July 2019.
The second phase would include the completion of 253 signalised and non-signalised intersections within the city, he added.
However, Management of Beijing Everyway say this move by government will gravely affect international investor confidence in Ghana and it will seek redress in court.
