THE Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has urged the contractors working on the Ofankor-Nsawam road project to show commitment and continue work, while efforts are being made to mobilise resources for them.
Slowing down work entirely for non-honouring of certificates he stated, was not the best option and challenged them to increase pace to alleviate the suffering of the people.
He lamented that over GH¢100million road contracts were awarded between June and December 2024 while the actual budget to the sector was only GH ¢3 million.
Mr Agbodza made these remarks on his maiden duty tour of some ongoing road projects in the Greater Accra Region in order to get a first-hand information on the progress of work as well as the challenges of the contractors towards finding a common ground to addressing the inconveniences the delay was causing the public.
This was after the consultant, Mr Thomas David Arthur and the project director, Asare Kwodwo Awuku of Maripoma Enterprises Limited, the contractors to the project, had told the Minister and his team that work had slowed as a result of financial constraints.
According to them Certificates Number 6 submitted January this year had not been honoured, hence the slump in work.
They indicated that from Kilometre 0 to the toll booth area had been cleared and graded and assured of constantly watering to address the dust concerns of motorists.
The senior manager to the project, Mahama Abdulai, also informed the minister that the delay in relocating some high tension poles as well as legal and other issues regarding payment of compensation to affected property owners was also delaying the project.
The corridor, the minister explained was the significant and important link between Accra and other parts of the country with almost 75 per cent completion noting that the delay in completion had been of great concern, and urged the contractor to make it motorable.
Mr Agbodza noted that under normal circumstances certificates were honoured after 90 days and charged the contractor to complete the remaining 30 per cent as the President had already given his word to complete all ongoing projects.
He urged the contractor to liaise with the Motor Transport and Traffic Division of the Ghana Police Service to address the frequent traffic jam being experienced on that route.
The minister commended the contractor for the quality of concrete used and charged them to continue with such standards.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
