Work to start on Kpando-Dambai Road

Parliament yesterday adopted a motion for a loan agreement of $21.5 million between Ghana and Bilfinger Berger AG International Division to pre-finance a contract for the design and construction of phase II of the Kpando-Worawora-Dambai road project.

The consequential resolution for the final approval was, however, not taken.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the joint committees of Finance and Road and Transport, Mr Solomon Kwabena Sarfoh, said the road forms part of the network that links the northern and southern sectors of the country.

It also passes through the yam-growing and fishing communities and links various district capitals. He said the project area is densely populated and most of the people living in the area are small-scale farmers who can be described as the rural poor.

Mr Sarfoh pointed out that the project will enhance wholesale and retail trading which is the second major economic activity in the area, adding that," women are very active in all economic activities and dominate the trading network that brings goods to the villages from cities and district centres".

Throwing light on the project, the Minister of Roads and Transport, Dr Richard W. Anane, indicated that the project under consideration was suspended and the terms further discussed and reviewed with the contractor, which led to the reduction in the contract sum from $28 million to $21.5 million.

He said although the 50-kilometre stretch of road to be constructed is not to get to Dambai, but efforts will be made to extend the project to the town.

Seconding the motion, Mr Mike Hammah (NDC, Efutu) described the project as very important and said it will enhance the road network in the area to promote accelerated development.

The Chairman of the Finance Committee and NPP member for Abetifi, Mr E.A Agyepong, said the project is being executed in line with the government's commitment to infrastructural development which has been identified as a priority area.

Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu (NPP, Yendi) said the road is an important route linking the northern part of the Volta Region with the northern part of the country.

Mr G.K.B Gbediame (NDC, Nkwanta) said the road is very important to the people in Northern Volta and the Northern Region.

Continuing the debate on the President's State of the Nation Address, Mr A.K. Korankye (NPP, Asante Akyem South) said production of local rice has increased and is competing favourably with imported rice.

Mr Mike Hammah (NDC, Efutu) described the address as ambiguous and said it lacks the focus to provide direction for the various sectors of the economy in line with the government's policy objectives.

The Deputy Minister of Health and PNC member for Sisala, Mr Moses Dani Baah, said the government should consider problems facing the cotton industry.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, is to present the financial and economic policy of the government for this year in the course of next week.

The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Papa Owusu Ankoma, who announced this when he presented the business statement for next week, said the House will be informed of the exact date next Tuesday,