Road project delayed by payment of compensation

Tarkwa, (W/R) April.2 - GNA -Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Friday said numerous problems, including delay in the payment of compensation to landlords and farmers has affected the completion of the Axim Junction - Tarkwa road on schedule. He was speaking to the press at Tarkwa after inspecting the progress of work on the 62 kilometre road being undertaken by Messrs Taysec Construction Limited.

The government is undertaking the rehabilitation of the road under the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) at a total cost of 141,364,165,190 cedis with a grant from the European Union (EU). Mr Aidoo said work on the work on the project started in June 2003 and was supposed to be completed in June 5 this year but problems with the payment with compensation has brought work to a standstill on some portions of the road.

He said some farms and houses would have to be re-located to enable the road construction to go on but the owners are not willingly to move unless compensation was paid to them.

Mr Aidoo said he informed the government of the problem for its speedy solution.

He said some portions of the road, particularly from Bonsaso to Tarkwa pipelines would have to be re-laid otherwise water supply to Tarkwa would be cut off.

Mr. Aidoo said contractors relaying the pipes would complete work by the end of the month for the road construction to take place uninterrupted.

He urged the public to put up with the discomfort travelling on the road to enable the contractors to construct a road that would last for a long time.

Mr Aidoo also advised drivers against over-speeding on the road while construction works was going on.

Mr Dean Parker, the Project Manager, said the Company intended to tackle the difficult portions of the road first but encountered problems with water-logged and messy areas.

He said some machinery needed for work in these areas were not available so they had to import them to make it possible to widen the road.

Mr Parker said the heavy rainfall pattern in the area also slowed down work and so far, about 169 culverts had been constructed on the road. Mr David Sackey, the Resident Engineer said 67 percent of work on the road had been completed and the company would have to ask for extension of time for the project to be executed satisfactorily.