Work on Achimota-Mile 7 road to be completed by June - Contractor

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - Work on the Achimota-Mile 7 portion of the 5.7 kilometre Achimota-Ofankor road is expected to be completed by June this year.

The project that was awarded to China Railway Wuju Group (CRWG) in 2006, at an estimated cost of GH¢40 million to be constructed within 36 months, has delayed due to lack of funds the re-designing which has increased the contract sum by 375 per cent to GH¢128 million.

Mr. Shelter Yao Lotsu, Resident Engineer of CRWG, announced this on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the project site by Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Mr. Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways.

The tour was part of efforts to constantly supervise projects to ensure that quality work was delivered after government had paid additional GH¢15 million towards its completion.

Mr Lotsu noted that with the renewed commitment by government in terms of prompt payment, the project would be completed by May next year.

Other road projects toured included the 3.2 kilometre Kwabenya-ACP-Pokuase road which was awarded last year and now about 20 per cent complete and Tetteh Quarshie Interchange-Madina road awarded in 2006 and now about 70 per cent completed.

The contractor said the Legon portion to the overpass would be completed within the next 22 months.

Most of these roads would be three lane dual carriageways asphalted as well as bituminous-sealed including the construction of huge overheads, overpasses and bridges to allow free flow of traffic and drainage because=

they connect areas of high population in the national capital city. Dr Duffuor said he was impressed at the progress of work, and promis= ed that funds would be released as soon as the contractors submitted appropriation letters to government.

Mr. Gidisu said that government was committed to making regular payments to ensure that the projects were completed as schedule. He said "we have declared this year as a year of action" adding that=

the regular routine supervision and monitoring would be maintained and replicated all over the country to ensure that quality work was done to increase the lifespan of the roads. "This is to ensure value for money which we promise the people and w= e will keep it on course," Mr. Gidisu said. He expressed appreciation on the progress of work and called on the contractors to endeavour to complete the project on schedule while government continued to honour its obligation by releasing funds for the projects. Mr. Gidisu announced that similar tours would be undertaken in Kumas= i to monitor the quality of on-going projects especially the Asafo-Intercha= nge and demand accountability from the contractors