President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that he will ensure the completion of every project he has started before the 2020 elections.
Addressing the chiefs and people of Binaba in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region during his tour of the northern regions, the President said the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polmakum road and other numerous projects all over the country would be completed prior to the 2020 elections.
He said so much work had been done to secure funding for the 116 km road, which was the same stretch ex-President John Mahama cut sod to commence but could not ensure its construction after using the Road Fund as collateral for the loan.
“I have not come to deceive you; the days of deception are past. Our government means business and we will do what is right. I am assuring you that the road will be fixed before the 2020 elections,” the President said amid spontaneous applauds.
“I am surprised our opponents are talking and blaming us for not fixing this road. In 2016, they said President Mahama had invested in unprecedented infrastructural projects in this region. When I complained about the bad nature of the roads in 2016, President Mahama said I was sleeping. So where are the ‘unprecedented’ projects?”
Minister of Roads Kwasi Amoako-Atta announced at the durbar that the government had released 68 million Euros to the Brazilian contractor, Quirez Galvao, and a local contractor, Mamums, to restart work on the over 116 km stretch that links seven districts in the region.
The minister promised that government would release another amount to complete the contract sum of 128 million Euros to ensure that work does not halt to ensure its completion before the end of 2020.
“This is true; mark my words as I promise that work will start on this road and it will not halt again. The funds have been secured. What government needs is your co-operation and support to ensure that this road is fixed. Without your support and unity among you, it will be very difficult for us to achieve our targets and our purpose,” he stressed.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who is also with the President on the tour, said the implementation of the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ resulted in bumper harvest across the country in the last harvesting season and looks forward to another bumper harvest. He commended residents in border communities for helping in the arrest of persons smuggling fertilizers meant for the programme.
He was hopeful that there would be many opportunities for farmers to work 12 months in a year, after the rehabilitation and expansion of the Tono Irrigation Scheme. Government is investing a total of over 30 million Dollars to rehabilitate and expand the Irrigation Scheme.
FROM: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Binaba