Suhuyini proposes use of Pension Fund for critical infrastructure projects

The Deputy Minister designate of Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has proposed that the Pension Fund be leveraged to finance the construction of critical infrastructure projects to improve the road network across the country.

He said that if part of the fund was used for long-term projects such as constructing a three-lane dual carriage road from Accra to Tamale, tollbooths could be mounted on the way to raise revenue to pay back the money.

“When I pick reports of SSNIT and I see that they are investing in luxurious hotels and assets, I wonder if moving forward some of these funds could be used to develop critical infrastructure needs in the country and toll them later to recoup the investment,” the nominee said.

Mr Suhuyini made the proposal when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for his vetting in Accra yesterday.

It was in response to a question by a former Minister of Roads and Highway, Francis Asenso-Boakye, who said that budgetary allocation for road construction was woefully inadequate, given the demand for roads in the country.

Priority

Mr Suhuyini also said that when given the nod, he would seek direction from the sector minister on priority roads they could work on.

“It is sad that in this era we still have roads that are untarred. I am very confident that together with my minister, we will do our very best to prioritise some of these roads,” he added.

The nominee also said that he was aware the government owed contractors huge sums of money “so when we speak of the volumes of the construction that will go on, we also have to speak about the debt we are saddled with”.

Untarred roads

When asked about the situation of roads in the Tamale North Constituency by the MP for Gushiegu, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, Mr Suhuyini said the problem of untarred roads was not peculiar to the area, but across the country.

“So, it is not surprising that you find MPs file more questions related to roads in their areas,” he said.