Traveling on Chereponi’s roads in the North East region has not only become a nightmare as the constituency records more criminal attacks on residents than deaths from fatal road accidents.
Bad roads with death-trapped potholes have become the fueling factor in the crime surge in the Constituency, Hon Abdul-Razak Tahidu, Member of Parliament for the Chereponi Constituency has said.
According to him, the bad road network has led to a surge in crime as criminals seize the opportunity to launch their attacks as drivers slow down due to the potholes.
He said, as passengers blame drivers for speeding leading to fatal accidents, drivers blame the government for poor road construction, potholes and other problems, and criminals are taking advantage of both to loot unsuspecting passengers and drivers due to the poor nature of the roads.
Hon Razak Tahidu revealed this when he dragged the Minister for Roads and Highways to parliament on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, over some abandoned road projects in the Constituency.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways why Contractors of the following roads has abandoned the site after the 2020 elections and in July 2021 respectively, Chereponi-Yendi, Chereponi Township, and Yorgu -Konkombu roads?”, the MP questioned the sector Minister.
In response, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon Kwesi Amoako-Atta said, the Chereponi – Yendi road connects the district capitals of the Chereponi District of the North East Region and Yendi District of the Northern Region and spans a total road length of 112km from Chereponi towards Yendi.
According to him, 12km of the road formed part of the Eastern Corridor road, linking Sakpiegu to Yendi under the Damanko – Gbintiri road Lot 5 & 6 contracts.
He said the 100km road from Sakpiegu to Chereponi road has been awarded in two lots of 50km each to two contractors under funding by the Road Fund.
Currently, the sector Minister said the project which commenced on the 15th August 2016 for completion on the 15th of August 2019, included the construction of roadside drains, culverts, earthworks, and double bituminous surface treatment.
The contractor, he explained has suspended works because of delayed payment for work done after site Clearing and demolition, earthworks, concrete works and paving which are at 50%, 95.98% 0% 1% respectively.
The Minister added that the contractor would move to the site to continue work as soon payment for the work done so far is paid.
On the 50km road from Sakpiegu – Chereponi, Hon Amoako-Atta said the project commenced on the 24th of November 2016 for completion on the 23rd of November 2019, for the construction of roadside drains, culverts, earthworks, and Double bituminous surface treatment.
The Contractor, he said “suspended works because of non-payment of IPCs but has informed the Engineer of his intention to resume work. Progress of work so far includes site clearing and demolition, earthworks, concrete works roads and pavings.”
Touching on the Chereponi township roads, Hon Amoako-Atta said the contract was awarded on 20th March 2020, and works commenced on 8th May 2020 with an expected completion date of 7th November 2021.
But the Contractor, he explained stopped work and abandoned the site since 21st December 2020 after constructing concrete roadside drains, culverts, earthworks (filling), subbase, and base and raising IPC no.1 at achieved progress of 55% physical completion.
Again, the Minister said warning letters that have been issued to instruct the contractor to return to the site have yielded no response from the Contractor, stating, “the Department of Feeder Roads has initiated the necessary contractual processes to terminate this contract.”
“In the event of termination of the two contracts, the assessment will be carried out on the outstanding works and repackaged as one contract for re-award,” the Minister said.
The Minister, however, told parliament, that the Yorgu – Konkombu road falls on the Ghana/ Togo boarder and is a non-engineered road and in a bad condition, but engineering studies shall be carried out for further consideration.
Nonetheless, he assured that the government would tackle the roads to reduce the frequent attacks on travelers and also ease transportation difficulties.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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