Contractors Blamed For Delay Feeder Road Construction
Dr Richard Anane, the Minister for Transportation, has explained that some of the reasons for the delay in the implementation of the upgrading feeder roads in the country is as a result of non-performance of contractors.
He disclosed this in Parliament while responding to a question by Nana Yaw Ofori Kuragu Member for Bosome Freho who sought to find out when the ministry would make the roads in towns such as Dompa, Ankaase,Daase,Banso, Apew ,Detieso and Esaase motorable giving its location around Lake Bosomtwe a tourist site.
Dr. Anane said the ministry had recognised that the towns have potentials for the development of tourism and recreational resorts in addition to farming and fishing activities.??
He said in spite of this potential, Lake Bosomtwe and its environs have poor road networks due to its difficult terrain.
Dr.Anane said the towns are located on partially engineered feeder roads such as Abono Adwafo-Esaase-Banso-Tumabu Junction (10km), Abonon-Obo-Old Brodekwano (7km),Beposo-Ankaase-Duase-Dompa Juntion-Tumabu Junction.??
He said in addition to linking realised the importance in his response told the House that his ministry had realised the importance of those roads and had therefore formulated plans to improve the roads.
He said contracts were awarded by the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) to major contractors but because of the small nature of the contracts, it did not appeal to major contractors. The contract was later awarded to lower class contractors who were not able to cope with the mountainous environment surrounding the roads.
?
He assured the House that DFR is undertaking further engineering studies to further engineering studies to repackage the contract in order to attract major contractors. The engineering studies are to be completed in September which would aid the commencement of work by the first quarter of next year.
?
The minister in answering another question by Mr. Peter Abum Sakodie Member of Parliament for Mampong on why the work on the Mampong Kofiase and the Pataase-Sesease-Kokobeng seen to be at snail pace, Dr. Richard Anane answered by saying that
Mampong Town Road project which was originally awarded to Ms Erdmac Limited in 2001 was terminated in 2003 due to non performance on the part of the contractor. The contract was later repackaged and re-awarded to Ms Ussaya Limited at an estimated cost of GH 600.800 cedis.
?
The project which commenced in December 2004 is due for completion in 2005 was extended to 2008 due to scarcity of crushed rock aggregate in the region between 2005 and 2007.
?
In a related development, the minister said that the tarring of the Juabeso-Akontombra road will begin after the tarring of the Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road is completed.
?
Dr Richard Anane said that the Akontombra road is being done in two phases. The first phase, he explained is 0-5km has been awarded to Ms Eagle Noir Limited in September,2006 at the estimated cost of GH1.305 million cedis for completion by
September 2008.He further said that work is 40% completed. The second phase also 5-10km was also awarded to Ms Kings man Limited; he added that their contract was terminated in 2007 for non-performance. It was recently re-awarded in April this year to Ms Frankard Limited at an estimated cost of GH 1.0492 and work is yet to commence.
?
He said this in response to a question asked byMr.Sampson Ahi, Member of Parliament for Juaboso-Akontombra, when road be tarred.
