DUFFUOR, GIDDISU TOUR ROAD PROJECTS

The Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Giddisu yesterday undertook a tour of some of the major road project sites in the Greater Accra Region.

These projects include Achimota-Ofankor road project, Kwabenya-ACP-Pokuase road and Madina-Tetteh Quarshie road.

Mr. Shelter Yao Lotsu, Resident Engineer of CRWG, who led the two ministers and other officials of the two ministries said the Achimota-Ofankor was awarded to China Railway Wuju Group (CRWG) in 2006, at an estimated cost of GH¢40 million to be constructed within 36 months.

According to him, the project has delayed due to lack of funds adding that a redesigning by the engineers has increased the contract sum by 375 per cent to GH¢128 million.

Mr Lotsu noted that with the renewed commitment by government in terms of prompt payment, the project would be completed by May next year.

The 3.2 kilometre Kwabenya-ACP-Pokuase road which was awarded last year is about 20 per cent complete and Tetteh Quarshie Interchange-Madina road awarded in 2000 is now about 70 per cent completed.

The Legon portion of the Madina-Tetteh Quarshie road to the overpass would be completed within the next 22 months.

Most of these roads would be three lane dual carriageways asphalted as well as bituminous-sealed including the construction of huge overheads, overpasses and bridges to allow free flow of traffic and drainage because, the officials said.

Dr Duffuor said he was impressed with the progress of work so far, and promised that funds would be released as soon as the contractors submit appropriation letters to government.

Mr. Giddisu said that government was committed to making regular payments to ensure that the projects are completed as schedule. He said "we have declared this year as a year of action" adding that the regular routine supervision and monitoring would be maintained and replicated all over the country to ensure that quality work was done to increase the lifespan of the roads.

"This is to ensure value for money which we promise the people and we will keep it on course," Mr. Giddisu said.

He expressed appreciation on the progress of work and called on the contractors to endeavour to complete the project on schedule while government continued to honour its obligation by releasing funds for the projects.

Mr. Giddisu announced that similar tours would be undertaken in Kumasi to monitor the quality of on-going projects especially the Asafo-Interchange and demand accountability from the contractors.