Ministry to continue with road construction

The Minister of Roads, Highways and Transport, Dr Richard Winfred Anane on Friday gave the assurance that government had commenced with procurement process to award contracts for the construction of various roads throughout the country.

He said 10 kilometres of the 30 kilometre Have to Kpando road has been earmarked for sectional resurfacing and the works would include scarification of the deteriorated sections, topping up of the base material and tarring of the sections.

Dr Anane said this in an answer to a question asked by Ms Akua Sena Dansua, NDC- North Dayi, as to when the Have to Kpando Highway that had deteriorated beyond acceptable levels would be reconstructed.

The Minister said the contract would be awarded in the middle of May while in the mean time routine maintenance works would commence on the other sections of the road to make it passable.

Mr Namburr Berrick, NDC-Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, asked the Minister when the Bunkpurugu to Nakpanduri road that was started by the previous government would be completed.

Dr Anane said the Ghana Highway Authority was undertaking the surface dressing of the Walewale - Gambaga - Nakpanduri - Bunkpurugu - Wanjaga road in phases.

In the 2000, the stretch from Kilometre 85 to Kilometre 105 between Nakpanduri and Bunkpurugu was completed. Kilometre 48 to Kilometre 58 between Gambaga and Nalerigu was also completed in 2002 while surface dressing works for Kilometre 0 to Kilometre 10 between Walewale and Gambaga was awarded in 2002 and works was scheduled for completion this year.

Dr Anane said this year Kilometres 43 to Kilometre 48 and Kilometre 105 to Kilometre 110 between Walewale - Gambaga and Nakpanduri - Bunkpurugu would be executed since procurement processes had commenced for tarring of the road to be in phases until the whole stretch was covered.

Mr Felix Twumasi-Appiah, NDC- Sene, also asked the Minister of Roads and Highways what immediate plans the Ministry had to reconstruct the Atebubu to Kojokrom through Kwame Danso trunk road that was in very deplorable state.

Dr Anane said the entire 101 kilometre-stretch of the road was unpaved and the surface condition was poor adding that the reconstruction of the road had been planned in stages.

He said to keep the road in passable condition, maintenance activities such as construction of culverts, re-gravelling and routine maintenance works were awarded on contract but some of the works were delayed due to the unusual rainfall pattern in the area.

He said since the road was low lying in several sections and had to be raised, engineering studies and design were being undertaken on the road this year as a prelude to the rehabilitation of the road as the next stage of the development of the road.

Dr Anane said the road would be put on the priority because it was in a very productive part of the country.

Dr Anane said the main town roads in Atebubu and Kwame Danso would be tarred this year and procurement processes for the works would be completed by the middle of this year.