Work progressing on cocoa roads in E/R

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere has undertaken an inspection of some work on cocoa roads being constructed in the Region.

In June this year, President John Dramani Mahama officially cut the sod for work to start on the US $150 million Cocoa Roads project across the country at Adeiso in the Eastern Region.

The project was to rehabilitate roads in cocoa growing areas to enable cocoa farmers to send their cocoa beans and other food crops to the marketing centres.

The Regional Minister and a team of engineers from the Ghana Highways Authority and Department of Urban Roads, inspected a five kilometers Suhum township roads under rehabilitation under the project with a 1.8Kilometer drainage system, which is 25 percent completed.

The project is expected to cost GH¢ 7.4 million.

The team also inspected rehabilitation work on the 33.6kilometer Suhum to Asamankese road which has been awarded to three contractors with Muudu Construction Limited doing the first 10 Kilometer, A &R Hatoum Limited also doing the next 13 Kilometer and Joshob Construction Company Limited constructing the last 10 Kilometer.

The team also inspected work on the 10 Kilometer Osenease to Akwatia road, the Adeiso to Asamankese road , the 14.9 Kilometer Aburi to Nsawam road and also the rehabilitation of some selected 8.6 Kilometer Aburi township roads.

Mr Emmanuel Laryea Odai, acting Regional Highways Director, said since the inception of work three to four months ago, the roads have been cleared and work on the drains were being done before concrete works starts.

He indicated that so far the percentage of work done on the inspected cocoa roads was about five to 25 percent complete , adding that, all contracts were expected to be executed within 18 to 24 months depending on the volume of work.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako said it was imperative to inspect the roads to know the challenges contractors were facing and stressed the need for the engineers to ensure that the cocoa roads met the required standards to enhance economic growth in the beneficiary areas.

He said he had been impressed with the work of the contractors and the determination exhibited by their workers.