Story by Isaac Asare
The Upper East
Regional Minister, Albert Abongo says his administration will not take it
kindly with project contractors cited for non-performance, and warned that such
contractors will be blacklisted and contracts abrogated to pave way for
professionals.
He said most often than not contractors after being awarded and
funded to execute projects abandon site halfway while others indulge in shoddy
work.
This according to the minister retards economic growth thus thwarting
government’s effort at ensuring value for money in the execution of projects,
particularly roads.
Mr Abongo gave the warning in an interview with Radio Ghana
after touring some road network within the Bongo District to assess the state
of the road to be considered for an upgrade.
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| 6 No 3x3 box culvert on the Bongo-Abokobisi-Balungu road |
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| The damaged double 3x3 box culvert on the Boko-Namoo-Feo Road |
Accompanied by
his deputy, Dr Robert Kuganab-Lem, the DCE for Bongo, Alexis Ayamdor and some
technical staff at the regional office of the Department of Feeder Roads, Mr
Abongo toured the 4.1kilometer road within Bongo to check the progress reached
in the construction of on-going works.
The tour forms part of his resolve to
inspect some key road projects in the region to evaluate and assess their
condition for redress.
The Bongo town road, which provides access to a large
number of settlements, is in a deplorable state with portions requiring serious
intervention to avoid further damage.
Most existing culverts are weak and need
to be replaced and worked on.
Others have been removed and require urgent
attention. Affected areas include the Bongo –Balungu road, the Yua-Dua-Bogorogo
kilometre stretch, the Bongo–Abokobisi –Balungu road and the Boko-Namoo-Feo
road.
According to the Deputy Regional Director of the Department of Feeder
roads, Stephen Quainoo, the 7 km Yua-Dua-Bogorogo road has deteriorated beyond
the routine maintenance programme captured under their department’s programme
for 2016.
He said in view of the situation, the project is now programmed under
a periodic maintenance which has to do with rehabilitation.
This, he added,
will require the provision of four major critical culverts before graveling of
the entire stretch takes place.
It was however established that the contractor
who was supposed to reshape the road has had his contract terminated for abandoning
site immediately after excavation and his failure to fix the opening of the
road with a double 1,200 by 900 size culvert.
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| Fmr Assemblyman for Boko in a tit chat with the RM |
Meanwhile, a double 3x3 box culvert on the
Boko-Namoo–Feo road is said to be inadequate and require additional culverts to
prevent the perennial overflow of water when there is heavy downpour.
This was
confirmed by a former Assembly member for Boko, Rockson Sulemana Azure.
Mr
Quainoo in an interview revealed that estimates for the maintenance of the
affected roads had been prepared, advertised and subsequently submitted to
Ministry of Roads and Highways for approval.
He said on the interim, some
culverts will be provided before they embark on a major periodic maintenance.
Briefing
Radio Ghana after the tour, the Regional Minister, Albert Abongo expressed
graved concerned about the poor nature of the road network not only in Bongo
but the entire region.
He lamented that
most of the road being constructed in the region are not able to stand the test
of time and blamed contractors for shoddy work.
He said his administration had prioritized roads in his development agenda and will not countenance on
non-performance on the part of contractors.
He expressed his resolve to liaise
with the department of feeder roads to work on the feeder roads to facilitate
the movement of goods and services.
He said the successful rehabilitation of
the Bongo road will provide a vital infrastructure to assist in the development
effort of Bongo.
Mr Abongo further charged MDCEs and other technical experts to
exercise their monitoring and supervisory role and look out for contractors
that indulge in shoddy work.
GBC
END
IA/
