Mr. Quarshigah (R) briefing Mr. Bani (L) |
Contractors working on the
Ho -Adidome trunk road in the Volta region are yet to receive monies from the
ministry of finance to enable them complete work on the road, three weeks after
President Mahama announced the release of funds to that effect during a day’s
inspection tour of the road.
This was disclosed on
Sunday to the Chief of Staff Mr. Prosper Douglas Bani when paid a day’s working
visit to the region to ascertain the progress of work on the road since the
president’s last visit.
The resident engineer in
charge of the project, Mr. Divine Quarshigah, told the chief of staff and his entourage
that, though some culvert works are ongoing on the road, work is progressing at
slow pace due to the delays in the release of funds to the contractors, Ussuya
Ghana Ltd, PMC and Jani-CORP enable them
fully mobilise back to site.
‘The contractors have not received
any payment after the president came’ he said and explained further that his
checks as of last Friday revealed that the payment process has left the Ghana
Highway authority to the finance ministry.
The delay in the release of
the monies to contractors according to the resident engineer is one the major
challenges hampering the speedy completion of the 48km road, with the second
challenge being heavy rains which disrupt work because of the porous nature of
some portions of the area.
A box culvert under construction on the road |
The road which is packaged
in three lots, comprises of an 18.6km stretch from Ho to Adaklu-Hlekpe for lot
one and is being executed by Ussuya Gh Ltd, a 14.4km stretch between Adaklu-Helekpe
and Adaklu-Ahunda for lot two, being worked on by PMC constructions and the
third lot being constructed by Jani-CORP Gh Ltd is a 15km stretch between
Adaklu-Ahunda and Mafi-Kpedzeglo.
The rate of completion of
the three lots according to Mr. Quarshigah, stands at 48.5 per cent for Lot
one, 50.2 for Lot two and 41 per cent for Lot three.
Despite the delays, the
resident engineer however assured the chief of staff and his entourage that the
road will be fully completed by the end of December 2014.
Responses
The chief of staff, Mr.
Prosper Douglas Bani in response, said ‘I don’t want payment to be an issue
after the president’s visit’ and promised to follow up on the process to ensure
that the contractors gets the monies to complete the road on schedule.
This, he said will
alleviate the inconveniences caused by the closure of the Adomi bridge for major
rehabilitation to residents.
Madam Fafa Adinyira, Madam.
Mary Agbenyenu and Mr. Sky Ganaku, the Chief executives of Ho Municipal, Adaklu
and Central Tongu districts respectively, who also accompanied the Chief of
Staff on his tour with the deputy regional minister, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo,
raised concerned about the quality of materials being use for the construction
and urged the resident engineer to ensure the use of standard materials to
ensure the longevity of the road when completed.
The chief of staff, who
also inspected a 100 acre land earmarked for the construction of a regional
sports complex and site for the aerodrome, reiterated the president’s
commitment towards fulfilling all promises made to the region, including the
eastern corridor road project.
He therefore urged
residents to support government in its quest to bring development to all parts
of the country including the Volta region, stating that ‘by the next couple of
years, we should see tremendous development of the region.’
Other persons who
accompanied the chief of staff included MP for Ho central, Mr. Benjamin Kpodo,
Regional Chairman and Secretary of NDC respectively, Mr. Kwesi Aboagye and Mr.
Simon Amegashie-Viglo as well as a host of other Municipal and district chief
executives in the region.
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