U.E. Road Projects at standstill

Over 90 per cent of road projects currently being undertaken in the Upper East Region, have come to a standstill for some time now.

Even though most of the contractors have the requisite road construction equipment, they have failed to execute and complete their projects despite promptings by the authorities.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Highways, Samuel Obodae disclosed this when he led members to inspect road projects in the Upper East Region.

The tour took them to Nankane, Bolgatanga, Bongo, Bawku West, Talensi-Nabdam and Garu Tempane district..

Consequently, Obodae said the committee would have to abrogate the affected contracts and invite tenders from both foreign and local contractors from outside the region to bid for the jobs.

He said the decision was upon a recommendation by the regional branch of the Ghana Highway Authority that most of the on-going road contracts in the region be terminated for non-performance.

Mr Osae Boateng, maintenance manager of Upper East GHA, who conducted the committee round, disclosed that the government has been fulfilling its part of the contract by paying the contractors for work done "yet they fail to perform with the excuse that there are no chippings available in the region."

He said even when the contractors go for the chippings from elsewhere in the country, they are paid accordingly.

The Regional Minister, Boniface Gambila, who briefed the committee said the region had since the colonial era, been deprived of the needed road network to facilitate the carting of foodstuffs from the farm gate to the marketing centres.

Besides, he said the region now serves as a gateway to the Sahelian countries such as Burkina-Faso, Mali and Senegal and therefore needs more roads.