Narration: Road
contractors who have won bids and are currently being handed over projects to
execute are requested to complete work on schedule to avoid abrogation of
contract. More so, contractors that unduly delay projects for no apparent
reason would not only have their contracts terminated but also be made to face
legal actions for breach of contract. The Minister of Food and Agriculture,
Kwesi Ahwoi, who gave the caution said the era where contractors thought that
contracts awarded cannot be terminated
is over, adding that legal actions will be pursued to recover any monies owed
to government by such contractors. According to Mr. Ahwoi, default contractors
would have their company’s name blacklisted and their information circulated to
all government projects, ministries and donor communities. On the other hand,
firms that are able to execute projects on time and in good shape would
accordingly have their information circulated to enable them win more
contracts. Correspondent Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana.
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Mr.
Ahwoi was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony at Yidongo in the Bongo district to
mark the commencement of a 9 Kilometer Akasaringa-Oncho Free Zone and the
Ghanadaa-Akulyor feeder roads. The said road which is among 53 stretches of
roads distributed in four regions of Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP)
coverage areas is estimated to cost a whooping GHc 852,529. In all, a total length of 492 km roads
covering areas of Northern Ghana and parts of the Brong Ahafo would cost
GHc30.6 million. The project is being financed by the African Development Bank
(AfDB) while the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is
financing the agricultural value chain development component of NRGP. Mr Ahwoi
said good road networks, especially those linking farming communities plays a
critical role in the fight against poverty because such roads open up production
areas to marketing centres. He said in areas where roads are bad, cost of
production is high due to exorbitant transport charges from the farm gates to
the markets. Moreover, no transporter will be willing to put trucks on roads in
such deplorable state. He said once the incidence of Onchocerciasis has be
controlled in the Bongo District and its catchment area, what needed to be done
is to open up the area for farmers to return and engage in their farming
activities since the area possesses about 5000 hectares of fertile land. Mr.
Ahwoi said the road when finally completed can turn Bongo into a net food
exporting district and charge farmers in the area to lift up their farming
activities for best food output. He promised to collaborate with the assembly
to establish a farmer service centres where dealers and mechanization service
providers will be encouraged and supported to set up their businesses to boost
agriculture production. The Paramount
Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Aleemyarum who was fully
represented with his sub chiefs lauded the effort of the Agric Ministry and the
NRGP and pledged to do his bit to see to the successful construction of the
road. He appealed for tractors and other farm inputs to help increase food production
in the area and the region as well. The DCE, Clement Akugre Tia for his part
appealed for the establishment of storage facilities to enable farmers store
their produce during bumper harvest. This, he noted, will enable them reap the
full benefit of their labour. Mr Akugre
Tia further appealed for the construction of additional dams to augment the Vea
and other existing dams to enhance irrigation farming all year round.
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