GOVERNMENT AND THIRTY CONTRACTORS SIGN AGREEMENT FOR COCOA ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

The Government of Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board have jointly signed a contract with 30 road Contractors for the commencement of work on a total of 205 kilometers of roads in six cocoa growing regions as part of the Cocoa Road Improvement Programme(CRIP).

The contract, which covers the first phase of a three-phase programme, will be implemented between 2008 and 2010. It is the first major upgrading intervention target specifically at "cocoa roads".

In all, CRIP involves the bituminous surfacing of 600km of roads with funding of GH¢100m provided by the Government of Ghana and COCOBOD. The up-grading of these roads from gravel to bituminous surface would in addition to prolonging the life span, provide other environmental (dust nuisance) health and safety advantages.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu said the project when completed will facilitate the efficient evacuation of cocoa in the cocoa producing areas as well as facilitate the movement of People and food crops in these areas.

"An increased efficiency of evacuation of cocoa will not only benefit the farmer but also most players in the cocoa industry especially the Hauliers and Licensed Buying Companies in terms of the impact that this measure will have on their recycling rate/ funds turn over", he stressed.

He said government has since 2000 introduced initiatives that has imparted positively on the lives of the cocoa farmer.

These include payment of remunerative producer prices and payment of bonuses which have been paid six (6) times since 2001, effective diseases and pest control exercise and sustained scholarships to wards of cocoa farmers in second cycle institutions whose number currently stands at about 7,500.

He also added that, the government has since 2000 allocated about US$ 1.5m annually for the maintenance of emergency works on these roads and the other major interventions carried out by the Department of Feeder Roads through funding by the Road Fund, STABEX II and III programme funded by the European Union.

The Minister of State at the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Godfrey Bayon Tangu, gave the assurance that funds for the project had been secured, adding that the "issue of delayed payment should not be an issue for you to delay in execution of the contract".

He challenged them to produced quality work within the stipulated contract duration saying "You must strictly adhere to the specifications as contained in the contract document especially with respect to the compaction of the sub-base and base materials".

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana COCOBOD, H. E. Isaac Osei said the Board saw the implementation of such programmes as part of its social responsibility to farmers. He added that it also helped in area of health, through the Cocoa Clinic and in the education sector, scholarships have been provided for wards of cocoa farmers.

He urged the Contractors to see themselves as development partners of COCOBOD since cocoa happens to be the major source of foreign exchange.

Mr. J. Twumasi Mensah, the National Chairman of the Ghana Road Contractors Association on behalf of the contractors said since the government has given the assurance of funding being available, contractors on the projects would complete the work on schedule.

He, however, added that, the certification process should be done on time and assured all that they will do their best and make it a "show piece".

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Hon. Freddie Blay expressed his gratitude to the government for implementing such a programme that would benefit cocoa farmers, including those in his constituency.

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