Don't embarrass the government- Aliu

Agordeke, (E/R) Dec. 18, GNA- Vice President Aliu Mahama, expressing disappointment at the slow progress of some road projects, on Wednesday, urged contractors working in difficult terrains to communicate their problems to the Government for solutions. He advised contractors not to stall projects, saying failing to deliver on time would embarrass the government.

The Vice President said this when he inspected some projects in the Afram Plains District, as part of his working visit to the Eastern Region.

He said the Government was determined to make good its promises to Ghanaians to provide infrastructure that would boost socio-economic activities.

"We want to prove that we mean business and that we do not make empty promises, he stressed. "But if you don't pursue your projects with the same determination and zeal, you cannot meet the scheduled dates of completion and we will be accused as liars, doing politics of roads and electricity."

Most of the projects he visited in the Kwahu South and Afram Plains districts were on course and the contractors gave the assurance that they would meet the deadlines.

However, at Agordeke, one of the contractors working on the 12.1 kilometre road at the cost of seven billion cedis, Pentrexx, appeared to have left the site and returned with his equipment only to meet the Vice President.

"We don't want to see a demonstration to please government officials, but we want to see actual work progressing. If you have genuine problems let us know so that we can solve them," he cautioned. A representative of the contractor blamed the problem on the failure of the ferry to transport bitumen to the area.

The Afram Plains is considered by road agency officials as a difficult terrain because of very poor accessible routes and unreliable pontoon services, making it difficult for the transportation of equipment and materials.

However, Mr Alex Sofo, Deputy Minister of Road and Transport, cautioned that contractors would be constantly monitored and those found wanting would have their contracts terminated.

Other projects inspected by the Vice President during his three-day visit to the region were the Nkawkaw-Atibie Road project that would check landslide of the Kwahu Mountain, the Kwahu Tafo-Adawso Road that would link Kwahu South to Afram Plains to facilitate the transportation of foodstuff, the Donkorkrom-Bruben and Ekye-Amanfrom-Donkorkrom projects.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister Kwadwo-Adjei, Darko, Health Minister Kwaku Afriyie and other public officials, who accompanied the Vice President explained issues in their field to the people at various durbars. 18 Dec 03