Sogakope to Fume road to be rehabilitated - Minister

Accra, June 3, GNA - Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, on Friday said rehabilitation works would soon begin on the 117 kilometre Sogakope - Ho - Dzolokpuita - Fume road in the Volta Region, which was stopped in June 2001 due to funding constraints and the slow pace of work.

He said the road was awarded for design and reconstruction to Messrs Frandesco West African Limited in 1996 under a pre-financing agreement in two phases for bituminous surface dressing (tarring). The Contractor challenged the termination of the contract and the case is currently pending before an Accra High Court.

Dr Anane said these in an answer to a question by Mr Francis Agbotse, NDC Ho-West, who wanted to know the current status of the Sogakope - Ho - Dzolokpuita - Fume road. The road is unpaved and its condition varies from fair to poor.

Dr Anane said the project would definitely be continued after the determination of the suit and that since the termination of the work, routine maintenance had been executed on the entire stretch to keep the road passable.

"These include grading, ditch-cleaning, culvert cleaning, pothole patching and grass cutting."

The Minister said the road was a regional road, which linked Sogakope to Ho providing access to the many farming communities that laid along the corridor and that the project would be re-packaged for consideration for award next year.

On the Fume - Gbadzeme - Amedzofe; Kpedze - Kpoeta; Amedzofe - Kpedze and Dzolo - Dodome - Kpedze - Todze feeder roads; Dr Anane said the engineering studies were completed in 2004 and the designs were being reviewed.

He said the roads had been programmed for routine maintenance to make them passable until 2006 when rehabilitation works would begin. "The Amedzofe - Kpedze road would require reconstruction and as such the road has been surveyed and designed as well as programmed for the government's 2006 budget."

Mr David Tetteh Asumeng, NDC-Shai Osudoku, wanted to know from the Minister when the Doryumu - Kordiabe - Agomeda roads would be fully rehabilitated and tarred.

The Minister said the 11 kilometre road was selected for rehabilitation in 2002 with International Development Agency (IDA) funding but the World Bank could not give their "no objection" because the selected Contractor was over-burdened and appeared to be slow on other projects he was executing.

"So the project was re-advertised in 2004 and the valuation report has been submitted to the World Bank for their 'no objection', which is expected to be submitted after 2005."

Dr Anane said the road was previously tarred and served as a major route for commuters from the Eastern Region, especially for Koforidua and Tema corridor.

"The road has deteriorated considerably with potholes and depressions, some of the existing culverts need to be replaced and the road condition is generally poor."