MP for Tempane summons Minister to Parliament over abandoned road Projects
The Member of Parliament for Tempane, Hon Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba has dragged the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon Kwesi Amoako-Atta to parliament over some road construction work that has been abandoned after the change of government in 2017.
According to her, the contractor has left the site and the roads have conditions have worsened more than they were before the contract was awarded.
She added that the non –commitment to the completion of some key rural road projects in parts of the Constituency was enough reason(s) that the government was careless about the well-being of the people.
Hon Lamisi made this comment after she had summoned the Minister of Roads and Highways to parliament on Friday, November 12, 2021, over abandoned road projects in some of the communities within the Constituency.
The MP wanted to know from the Minister for Roads and highways when work would be resumed to construct roads in some of the rural farming communities at BugriCorner and Basynsele to ease access to their farmlands and to market centres.
“Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when works on the Bugri Corner to Basyonsele road project will resume?” Hon Lamisi questioned the Minister
Below is the Minister, Hon Amoako Atta Full Response
Background Bugri Corner–Basyonde (20.00 km) is an engineered feeder road in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region. The road is partly earth and partly gravel in poor surface condition.
Current Programme
Contract for the Spot Improvement of the Bugri Corner–Basyonde (20.00 km) feeder road commenced on 24th May 2018 and was expected to be completed on 23rd May 2019.
The construction period was extended to 23rd May 2021 which has elapsed. Work done to date include: – 20.0km of vegetation clearing – 1,490m of 600mm diameter U-Drains – 25No. of 1/900mm diameter pipe culverts – 1No. of 2/1200mm diameter pipe culverts – 1No. Of 3/1200mm diameter pipe culverts – 2No. of 1/900x700mm diameter pipe culverts Physical works is projected at 56% completion.
The contractor abandoned the site in February 2021 for non-payment of work done. Warning letters have been issued for him to resume work.
The response of the contractor is being monitored to enable the determination of the future of the contract by the end of November 2021.
But Hon Lamisi said the Minister response was unsatisfactory and navigating through some of these roads on daily basis is like passing through hell, adding that each day, motorists and commuters groan on the road.
It’s a regular occurrence for passengers and motorbike riders to fall into the murky and dusty perpetually domiciled on the roads.
The people in these communities, Hon Lamisi said hopes were being dashed daily as there is no assurance if the rural communities would ever be remembered by the current government.
Nonetheless, she assured that as MP for the people, he would double up his lobbying at the Ministry to have the roads fixed for his people.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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