VRCC to sanction defaulting road contractors

Hohoe, March 21, GNA - Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, has warned that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would sanction road contractors who carry out shoddy works and fail to meet deadlines.

He said without recourse for specifications and colossal investments in the road sector, agencies tasked to supervise and monitor such projects for quality assurance would not be spared for non-performance. Mr Amenowode, also Member of Parliament for Hohoe-South, gave the warning after inspecting on-going road projects in the Hohoe Municipality being undertaken by Messrs Survivors Construction Company. He has issued eight-week ultimatum to the contractor to marshal resources to complete the drains works and make the road motorable for commuters.

Mr Amenowode said government had contracted loans to redeem its indebtedness to road contractors, a major reason for the recent increase of road tolls to stuff the National Road Fund.

He said government was committed to mobilise funds to clear all arrears accruing from road projects, hence the need for contractors to reciprocate the gesture by delivering quality jobs. Mr Maama Sawyerr-Markwei, Regional Director of Ghana Highway Authority said the Hohoe project was behind schedule and works currently stood at 68 per cent progress.

He said a countrywide amnesty has been granted road contractors, which would expire on June 30, this year, and admonished contractors to mobilise resources to complete projects before the deadline elapses. Mr Castro Ahorsu, Managing Director, Survivors Construction Company assented to the project delay and attributed the situation to non-payment of works done.

He said the BOG-Saint Francis and Alabato roads were addendum to earlier projects undertaken by his firm and pledged to expedite action and asked for co-operation from residents. 21 March 10

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