Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia speaking at the event
Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said contractors of road projects have a big role to play in making government’s declaration of 2020 as ‘Year of Roads’ a reality.
He said, “The government’s intention for the ‘Year of Roads’ is to develop the road network as a critical infrastructure to create jobs, support industry, tourism, social services, accessibility and eventually reduce poverty. It is supposed to be a means of effectively concluding the promises made to Ghanaians when this government assumed power.
“I entreat you all to bring out your contributions to effectively map out the way to achieve this agenda. Let us ask ourselves the hard questions and find solutions.”
The Vice-President made the call when he supervised major stakeholders in the road sector, including contractors, at a retreat in Accra on Wednesday.
“A lot has been done in our three years in office. So much is going on, and sometimes if you don’t take your time, and take a look, and put the data together, you may go around thinking nothing is going on … We have been putting the data together on broad infrastructure that the government of Nana Akufo-Addo has put in place since we came into office in 2017, and I’m telling you when we release this data it’s going to shock a lot of Ghanaians, because a phenomenal amount of work has been done in just three years,” he stated.
Minister of Roads and Highways, Amoako-Agya addressing the gathering
“Notwithstanding all the challenges, what we are doing is impressive, but of course there is a lot more to be done. If you didn’t look at the data, you might think nothing is going on. So much is happening as we speak, but you need to put all that data together then you will see that a lot is going on. It’s not just the Tema Interchange, Pokuase Interchange, Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange, Tamale Interchange; many roads are going on. The asphalted roads across the country are clear and visible. And then when you put the work that is going to take place on the critical roads, on the cocoa roads, on the Sinohydro roads, you will see what I’m talking about,” he added.
Vice-President Bawumia urged contractors and the supervising agencies to ensure value for money, saying “there are legitimate questions about the diligence and capacity of some contractors, and the lack of efficient supervision. And I have heard complaints about the collusion between contractors and road supervisors. How can we ensure that we get value for money for our roads? How can we ensure that contractors who do shoddy work are held responsible?”
Roads Minister Kwasi Amoako Atta issued a cautionary note to contractors who are delaying road construction projects in the country.
He said he was not ready to countenance any contractor who may be undermining government’s determination of making 2020 a year of roads, by completing many major road projects.
He said civil and public servants whose actions or inaction might cause disaffection for government as regards road projects were also being watched.
He then outlined the significant investment made by government in the road sector so far, disclosing that about GH¢5.2 billion had been paid to road contractors from 2017 to date (including the GH¢2.2 billion paid to contractors at the end of last year). He assured contractors of the government’s resolve to address issues of delayed payments.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu