We’ll support local contractors to deliver — Amoako-Atta

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta, has said the government will continue to support local road contractors to deliver quality roads that will ensure safety and the smooth transportation of goods and people across the country.

However, he said, the government would not accept jobs executed poorly, insisting that all construction works must ensure value for money.

"Under the watch of President Nana Akufo-Addo, no shoddy road works will be tolerated. I, therefore, urge contractors working on roads across the country to deliver quality work and on schedule,” he said.

Mr Amoako Atta said this in an interaction with journalists after he had inspected construction works on the 73 kilometre (km) Salaga-Bimbilla road at the start of his six-day working tour of road projects in the Savannah, Northern, Upper East, Upper West and North East regions last Wednesday.

Salaga-Bimbilla road in perspective

The Salaga-Bimbilla road is of significance, since it is the shortest link to the road corridor connecting the north of the country to the south.

The road passes through a number of towns, including Sabonjida, Sogon, Taali, Abotareye and Chamba, which are all commercial towns and also known for their agricultural productivity.

The road project, when completed, is expected to increase economic activities along the route, reduce travel time and facilitate easy and fast movement of agricultural produce such as yam, livestock and fish to all parts of the country and even beyond.

It will also bring about improvement in the safety of travellers on the route and reduce or eliminate robbery along the stretch.

Critical roads

Mr Amoako-Atta said since it assumed office, the government had ensured that roads that were critical to the country’s needs were fixed in order to secure free flow of people, goods and services and for the economy to grow.

He charged road contractors to produce quality works, stressing that the government would at all times ensure there was value for money concerning the jobs they received.

The Roads and Highways Minister said further that the government was committed to working to build the capacities of local contractors and subsequently support them to compete for international jobs.

Bimbilla town roads

He gave an assurance that all the roads in Bimbilla would soon be improved.

Briefing

The Resident Engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) in the Savannah Region, Mr Benjamin Attah, who briefed the sector minister and his entourage during theinspection tour of the Salaga-Bimbilla road, said the contractor was progressing steadily with work and would complete it on schedule.

Mr Amoako-Atta also inspected ongoing works on the 45.3-km Kpandai-Ekumdipe-Salaga road which is scheduled for completion by August next year.