People and Places: The Sofoline Interchange

The Sofoline Interchange is a critical transportation hub and a major landmark located in Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti Region.

Specifically, it is situated at the intersection of the Kumasi-Techiman Highway and the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway, two of the busiest roads in the region.

Construction of the Sofoline Interchange began in 2007 to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety in the area known as Sofoline.

The project, which includes the construction of interchanges at Sofoline and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, reconstruction of an 11-kilometre six-lane dual carriageway from the Komfo Anokye Roundabout to Abuakwa and five underpasses for pedestrians, was executed by the China Geo Construction Limited, with funding from the Government of Ghana.

Before the construction of the interchange, the intersection was a notorious traffic bottleneck, causing frustration for commuters and hindering economic growth.

The Government of Ghana thus recognised the need to upgrade the intersection into a modern interchange, capable of handling the increasing volume of traffic.

The Sofoline Interchange is a cloverleaf interchange, similar to the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra.

The interchange features a series of exit and entrance ramps, arranged in the form of a four-leaf clover, allowing traffic to flow smoothly and efficiently in all directions.

This project has significantly improved traffic flow and reduced congestion in the area.

It has also enhanced road safety, having reduced the risk of accidents and minimised conflict points between vehicles. 

Additionally, the interchange has improved access to the city, making it easier for businesses to operate and for people to access goods and services.