Aflao-Beat Nine road to be considered

Page 14, November 22, 2007

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, has assured the people of Aflao in the Ketu South Constituency that construction of the Aflao-Beat Nine (Ashiboe Mensah) road would be considered next year under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district.
The road has deteriorated to such an extent that it becomes difficult for motorists to use it, especially during the rainy season.
Mr Opare-Asamoah gave the assurance in an answer to a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, Mr Albert Kwasi Zigah. He further asked the deputy minister what plans the ministry had for the construction of the road.
However, the minister pointed out that the road was currently not under the ministry’s road network.
He said the Department of Feeder Roads would conduct studies on the road in 2008, and based on the outcome of the such studies and availability of funds, the necessary intervention would be carried out.
Pressed with further follow-up questions by the MP, Mr Opare-Asamoah told the House that the road would be considered under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district as announced in the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented to Parliament last Thursday.
The MP for Kintampo South, Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi, also asked the deputy minister to know what had accounted for the long delay in the execution of the Apesika-Abom feeder road project, and whether the ministry had any plans to extend the road further to join the Kintampo-Prang road.
Answering the question, Mr Opare-Asamoah explained that the eight-kilometre project, which was awarded on contract for spot improvement in November 2004 at the cost of GH ¢100,000 (¢1 billion) was scheduled to be completed in September, 2005.
He stated that the contract had to be terminated in February 2007, due to non-performance by a contractor after persistent warnings.
The deputy minister added that at the time of the termination of the contract, 68 per cent of works was completed, while ¢657 million, out of the contract sum, had been paid.
He stated that the project had been repackaged and programmed for a re-award in 2008.