Government to complete some major road projects this year -

Accra, Nov. 19, GNA - Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Thursday said completion of the Ho-Fume, Sogakope-Adidome-Ho, Kumasi-Techiman, Doyormu-Prampram and Nkawkaw-Obomen= g roads were some of the major road projects which had been completed durin= g the current fiscal year.

"The construction, rehabilitation or upgrading of a number of roads and highways were completed during the year to reduce road infrastructure backlogs in the country," he added.

Presenting Government's Fiscal and Economic Policy to Parliament in Accra, he said routine maintenance were also undertaken on 3,975.07 kilometres of highways while re-gravelling and resealing were also conduc= ted on 444.36 kilometres of road. He noted that works on some 810.13 kilometres of road were also executed under the improvement work, partial construction, upgrading and rehabilitation programme. Dr Duffuor said about 1,716 kilometres of feeder roads were routinel= y maintained while 521.8 kilometres were rehabilitated, including the construction of eight bridges. He noted that the Ministry of Roads and Highways completed 700 kilometres of urban roads in respect of periodic maintenance works and 1,= 680 kilometres of routine maintenance. "Maintenance works on the Central Business District roads in Accra w= ere completed while 77 kilometres of minor rehabilitation and upgrading works=

were also completed," he added. The Sector Minister said completion of the railway extension from Asoprochona to Tema and the running of the diesel multiple units were som= e of the achievements within the transport sector.

He mentioned the refurbishment of floating dock at Akosombo to aid t= he construction of two RoRo Ferries, construction of 75 kilometres of trunk and 348 kilometres of feeder roads which were on-going as some of the project= s being undertaken under the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) Projec= t. "The last is the on-going 14 kilometres NI highway in Accra," he add= ed. He noted that, although the southern part of the country had a good railway system, most of the rail networks in the country were characteris= ed by old tracks, rotten coaches, and inadequate railway terminals, stations=

and platforms. Dr Duffuor pledged government's commitment in sourcing for funds to rehabilitate and totally rebuild the rail sector. He said the recently commissioned Accra-Tema rail lines would be extended to Tema Harbour area and Tema Community One to improve the subur= ban railway system next year.

"The rehabilitation of the Western line, which commenced in 2009, wo= uld continue to facilitate freight movement in the Region," he said. Dr Duffuor said funds would be made available to the Ministry of Transport to support the supply of 150 VDL buses for the Metro Mass Trans= it Limited and the Rural Transport Programme to improve inter and intra city=

movement of people and goods. He said the Millennium Development Authority, with the support of th= e Ministry of Transport would also launch two new RoRo Ferries on the Volta=

Lake and commence the removal of tree stumps in the Volta Lake next year. 19 Nov. 10