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Mr Charles Adubofour inspects an ongoing road project
The Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Highway Authority, Charles Adubofour, has disclosed that about 500km of roads, currently being handled by the Authority in the region, will be tiled latest by the end of 2021.
Addressing the media during an inspection tour of roads under construction in the region, Mr Adubofour said out of the total road network of 1,551km in the region, 500km is currently under construction.
He said contracts for the tiling of the roads were awarded in 2018, 2019 and 2020, adding that with the speed with which the contractors are working, all the jobs will be completed by the time allocated or even earlier.
“Some of these roads were awarded late and it’s satisfying to see our own local contractors working tirelessly and so well to ensure that they deliver on time,” he said, adding that if the local contractors are treated well they will also work well.
“If we encourage them and give them more training, by giving them more contracts, it will help them to give us quality and beautiful roads. Their current works show that we are on the right path,” he said.
Feeder roads
The Eastern Regional Manager of Department of Feeder Roads, Seth Osei Nketiah, speaking with the Daily Statesman, noted that since independence till 2017, only 324km of roads had been paved out of a total feeder road network of 4,226km in the region
He, however, stated that since 2017, the Akufo-Addo government has ensured that 120km of the roads have been paved. He added that by December this year the Department will increase the kilometre of roads paved to 200km.
“Out of our network of 4,226km, 1,000km are under an upgrading programme to bitumen surface level. Because some of the roads were either at the earth level or gravel level, they need upgrades.
“And government is injecting almost GHC1.5 billion, funded by Ghana government, through the Ghana Road Fund, to ensure that all these kilometres of roads are paved for smooth driving and easy transportation,” he said.
“The projects are ongoing concurrently at all the districts in the Eastern Region. Every district is enjoying the work of feeder roads,” he added.
More contracts
Documents available to the Daily Statesman suggest that as of July 31 2020, a total of 45 contracts had been awarded to wholly Ghanaian owned contracting companies through the National Competitive Tendering procedures since January 2017.
Out of the 45 contracts, 35 of the contractors have mobilised the necessary staff and equipment for the execution of their works.
Some 50km of town roads in the Eastern Region have had minor rehabilitation, partial reconstruction and upgrade improvements substantially completed, and 28.50km of asphaltic concrete overlay have been carried out on Koforidua, Kyebi, Peduase and Akropong town roads, between January 2017 and June 2020.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen