Govt to compensate landlords

Page15, Feb 17, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE government is to pay a total of GH¢ 2.9 million as compensation to landlords whose property will be affected as a result of the construction of the Sofoline-Abuakwa-Sunyani dual carriageway, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, has disclosed.
The minister made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to answer some questions which had been filed by some Members of Parliament (MPs).
The MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, asked the minister what measures the ministry had put in place to replace the 36 market stores at Abuakwa, which had been earmarked for demolition as a result of the construction of the road.
The MP also wanted to know when the road network in Abuakwa, in his constituency, would be re-constructed.
Replying, Mr Gidisu said the Sofoline-Abuakwa dual carriage project formed part of the reconstruction of the Kumasi-Sunyani road.
He said the Department of Urban Roads had agreed with the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Assembly to replace the market stores, which would be affected by the project, explaining that the assembly was to provide the ministry with a piece of land for the replacement.
Mr Gidisu said the issue of the release of land was being sorted out by the assembly, and expressed hope that the land would be provided in time for the market stores to be re-built before the old ones were demolished.
Mr Owusu-Bio told the Daily Graphic later that beneficiaries of the GH¢ 2.9 million would be landlords whose property would be affected at Suntreso, Sofoline, Kwadaso, Asuoyeboa, Tanoso and Abuakwa.
On the construction of the Abuakwa roads, Mr Gidisu said though there were no immediate plans for the project, it would be considered together with others when town roads were being considered in future.
When it was his turn, the MP for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, asked the minister when the Mamponteng-Ahodwo, Krobo-Wonoo-Asonomaso, Kenyasi-Manhyia-Fawade and the Brofoyedru-Wadie Adwumakase-Aboabo roads in his constituency would be completed.
He also wanted to ascertain what measures were put in place to forestall the persistent knocking down of pedestrians on the Asonomaso Nkwanta-Fawade-Ahwiaa stretch of the Kumasi-Asante Mampong main road.
Mr Gidisu explained that the Krobo-Wonoo-Asonomaso road, which was awarded on contract in 2004 for completion in 2005, could not be completed due to non-performance of the part of the contractor, adding that the contract had been terminated and would be repackaged to be re-awarded alongside others soon.
He added that the contracts for the construction of the Kenyasi-Manhyia-Fawade and the Brofoyedu-Wadie-Adwumakase-Aboaso had also been terminated and would be re-packaged to be re-awarded, subject to availability of funds.
The minister also gave assurance that routine maintenance works would be carried out on some feeder roads in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region this year.
He said in an answer to a question posed by the MP for Asunafo South, Mr George Yaw Boakye, that the 9.0 kilometre Abesewa-Nnenyinaase and the 3.2 kilometre Denyase II-Kobeakrom feeder roads would be programmed for spot improvement this year.
Other feeder roads that had been either programmed for routine maintenance or spot improvement in the area included the 7.5 kilometre Nobekaw-Siana-Debra Camp road, the Ntonso-Asawinso road, the Denyasi No. 1 Junction-Denyasi No 1 road, the Anhwiam-Anhwiam Nkwanta road, the Dodowa-Sikafremogya road and the Amadu Nkwanta-Tetekwao road.
The MP, Mr Boakye, later told the Daily Graphic that there was a need for the current deplorable conditions of feeder roads in the area to be improved to enable both cocoa and food crop farmers to easily transport their produce to marketing centres for sale.