Mr Amoako Atta speaks to the media during the inspection
By Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen
The Minister of Roads and Highway, Kwasi Amoako Atta, has stated that the Akufo-Addo government has been paying the huge outstanding debts inherited in the roads sector since assuming office in January 2017.
According to the Minister, the government, on monthly basis, issues payment certificates to the contractors to offset the debt accumulated by the previous Mahama administration.
Speaking to the Daily Statesman on the sidelines of a two-day inspection tour of roads in the Eastern Region during the weekend, Mr Amoako Atta said a lot has been done under the road sector since the NPP took power. He said construction of bridges, interchanges and the entire portfolio of road networks are ongoing simultaneously across the country.
“I am saying so with absolute confidence because I’m doing what the President has directed me to do and also because I represent the President in this sector, so I know what I’m saying,” he said.
Inspection
The Minister inspected the Osiem-Begoro, Anyinam-Kwabeng, Kwabeng-Akropong, Akropong town roads, Awenare-Asamama, Nkawkaw town and Kwahu Tafo town roads.
Other roads inspected include Suhum-Asamankese, Asamankese town roads, Asamankese to Akroso, Akroso to Oda, Oda to Amanfopong, Oda to Ofoasekuma, Atekyem area roads in Koforidua and Tinkong to Amanfrom.
Mr Amoako Atta expressed satisfaction at the level of work being done on the various road projects.
“I will not refer you to any ‘Green Book’ to verify the existence of these roads as it was being done in the past. These are the roads. It’s clear, so we don’t need any book to compile our road projects. If you’re talking about the truth, then you must provide evidence and this is our real and physical evidence,” he stated.
Eastern Region roads
In a related development, the Minister has indicated that the Akufo-Addo government has, since it took office, been working hard to upgrade the road conditions in the Eastern Region, which were had been in very deplorable conditions over the years.
Giving the statistics of road infrastructure at a press conference in Koforidua last Sunday, the Minister said there are 1,565km paved roads, out of a total network of 7,54km, in the Eastern Region.
Also, there are 1,707km roads under good conditions; 2,215 under fair conditions; and 3,132km under poor conditions.
“This has been the statistics of roads infrastructure in the Eastern Region, but the President has been working to bring as many road projects as possible from poor to fair and from fair to good,” he said.
“I can speak with authority that 134 different road projects are going on in this region. From North to South and West to East of the region are all experiencing massive road construction,” he disclosed.
Covid-19
The Minister expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance with the Covid-19 precautionary protocols by the various construction firms working in the region.
“The road sector was one sector that was not closed even in this Covid-19 situation. However, these contractors have stuck to the protocols in place and are observing everywhere I have gone to. These contractors are working, and I want to assure them that they have the support of the government.”
He however disclosed that contracts of some few ‘unserious’ contractors have been terminated to pave way for serious ones.
Source: Daily Statesman
