More roads to be constructed in the North

Nakong (U.E), Dec. 16, GNA - Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister for Roads and Highways, on Tuesday, announced that his Ministry was collaborating with the Ghana Cocoa Board to extend the rehabilitation of roads to coffee and sheanut growing areas.

He said roads to be rehabilitated, under the project in 2011, are Bienya to Citanga, in Wa West, Lawra-Dikepe districts in the Upper West Region, Kandiga junction to Sirigu, in Kasenna-Nankana, Zebilla through Kansogo to Zabre in the Bawku West Districts.

He made this known at Nakong in Kasenna-Nankana West District, when he cut a sod for the reconstruction of a GH¢29.9 million road project. The road construction starts from the 25 km section of the Tumu-Navrongo road linking the Upper East and the Upper West Regions. The project is expected to resolve the problem of carting food to marketing centres in the two regions.

Mr Joe Gidisu said it was worthy to reconstruct the distributor rout= es that linked important towns such as Kuplima and Wuru, in the Upper West region and Kayoro and paga in the Upper East Region. Giving the scope of the project, he said it would also involve the construction of the Tumu-Navrongo road, drainage structures, such as U-drains in the towns, pipe and box culverts and road safety signs. He asked motorists to bear with the contractors during the construct= ion of the road and gave the assurance that, the necessary road signs would b= e provided to bring sanity while work progresses.

He said the opening up of the roads would enhance the movement of go= ods and services, adding that, "it would generate employment and improve the status of the people in the communities and Ghanaians in general."

He said the towns also shared borders with neighbouring Burkina Faso=

and linked Welembele in the Upper West Region and Doninga, Sadema and Kol= ogo in the Upper East Region whilst the extension work linked Lilikse, Jefisi= , Hian, Karni, Lawra and Panyani also in the Upper West Region, on the bord= er with the Ivory Coast. The two Regional Ministers, Mr Issahaku Salia of Upper West and Mr Woyongo of Upper East commended government for the project. Mr Woyongo said the project would not only improve the road network,=

but would also, build a solid sustainable foundation for progress in the years ahead. He thanked the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the rehabilitation=

works on the roads and the installation of traffic lights, as the region prepared for its 50th anniversary. He appealed to government to decentralize the payments of small contract sums in the region, saying that, by giving small regional sealin= g for such contracts, the region would be able to pay contractors undertaki= ng minor works. He added that it would further reduce the long travels to Accra by s= uch contractors for payments.

The Nakong Chief, Pe Joseph Banape Afagachi, on behalf of the chiefs=

and people of the two regions thanked government for the initiative and appealed to the contractor to consider water harvesting measures, to enab= le farmers to use water from the dams, during the dry season and also as a source of water for livestock. He said the project had brought back life to the community and that the deplorable roads caused accidents and also makes it difficult to access health care early in other communities and towns.