Gov't attitudes toward contactors slowdown road projects in Ghana

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako-Attah has revealed that, Government inability to pay road contractors on time are the major causes of slow pace of road constructions in The Country.

According to him, “the contractor has applied for extension of time to complete the works due to the Employer’s delay in paying for work done.

The contractor has since September 2017 suspended works.” The Sector Minister made this known on The Floor of Parliament when he was answering a question asked by MP for Ada Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, as to the current states of the refurbishment works on the Ada Foah to kasseh Road in her constituency.

The Minister said a contract for the Partial reconstruction of the Kasseh-Ada Road (20.7km) was awarded to commence on 3rd January, 2013 for completion on January 3, 2015, but it delayed due to lack of payment, adding that “the progress of work is projected at 60% physical completion; Site clearing 100%, Earthworks 50%, Pavement Works 50% and Road surfacing 70%.

The resumption and completion of the works will depend on when the Employer pays for the work done, the project is financed from the consolidated Fund (GOG), he mentioned.

Background:

The Ada Foah- Kasseh Road is part of Regional route R 1 1. It is located in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region. The road surface is asphaltic concrete in the good to fair condition.

In a related development, works on Dabogse-Banijar is also behind time, “works have been suspended as result of Employer’s undue delay in the paying for work done. Physical completion to date is projected at 32%. Works executed to date include; 3nos. 1/900mm diameter pipe culverts and 3nos. 2/1200 diameter pipe culverts”,

Mr. Amoako-Attah ateated that, “as a result of the undue delay, the Department of Feeder road will take measures to terminate the contract after all contractual procedures to determine the contract have been exhausted. Thereafter, all outstanding works will be repackaged far award”.

The Dabogse-Banijar feeder road is 10.6km long. It forms part of the Bayim Junction – Dabogse-Bunijir feeder (23.60km). The road lead Bayim junction in the Tamale Metropolis to Bunijir in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region.

Contract for the rehabilitation of Dabose- Bunijar (10.60km) feeder road was awarded on 29th December, 2015. Works commenced on January 29 2016 and was projected for completion on January 29 2017. 


Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah

GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---