Four top officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), the Departments of Feeder Roads and Urban Roads have been asked to proceed on leave and the board of the GHA dissolved pending the streamlining of the administration of the roads sector.
A press statement signed by government spokesperson, Ms Elizabeth Ohene on Wednesday named them as Alhaji B.L.T Sakibu Chief Executive and Dr Fred Addo-Abedi, Deputy Chief Executive Development) both of GHA, Mr C.D. Antwi, Director of Feeder Roads and Mr G.J. Brocke, Acting Director of Urban Roads.
The statement said the measures had become necessary because of the alarming situation in which billions of cedis in arrears are owed to contractors.
It said in 1996, on the advice of the donor community, a specialist was invited to undertake a study of the sector and recommend actions to clean the system of mismanagement but the recommendations were not implemented.
The result is that the mess in the road sector has continued with more and more contracts being awarded thus increasing the size of arrears."
The statement said Mr A.K Hammond, GHA Deputy Chief Executive (Administration), is to act as Chief Executive while Mr Martin Mensah, Deputy Director of Feeder Roads takes over as acting Director and Mr Alex Twumasi Boakye, Deputy Director of Feeder Roads moves to Urban Roads as acting Director.
Mr Anthony Essilfie, Deputy Director, of Feeder Roads and Mr S.K. Nunoo, Deputy Chief Executive (Maintenance) of GHA are to move to the Ministry of Roads and Highways as Directors while Mr Joe Lamptey, a Director of the ministry is to act as Chief Director.
