The Member of Parliament (MP) for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, has expressed his disappointment at President Akufo-Addo government’s failure to prioritize rural road infrastructure within the constituency.

According to him, an improved rural road infrastructure enables connectivity and safe mobility to farmlands, education, and health and as well boosts local economic opportunities.

Dr. Sandaare raised the matter after he posed a question to the Minister of Roads and Highways in Parliament on Friday, July 28, 2023.

He wanted to know from the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon, Kwasi Amoako-Attah when work will start on the Kojokperi – Challa – Jimpensi – Guonuo Road.

The Communities with over 5 000 residents, the MP said have limited access to road infrastructure, which not only inhibits their mobility but also limits their access to development benefits and disproportionately impacts their daily economic activities.

Dr. Sandaare told EXPRESSNEWSGHANA, the Akufo-Addo-led government has failed miserably and only engaged in lip services and with sweetheart promises to his constituents, especially the rural communities.

He said improved rural infrastructure, most specifically roads, is critical to rural development as the roads serve as the crucial pathway to poverty alleviation as it provides access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for those who need it most.

DR SEBASTIAN SANDAARE

In response, the Roads Minister, Amoako-Atta said the 29 km Kojokperi–Challa–Jimpensi-Guonuo feeder road is identified on the Department of Feeder Roads ( DFR) database as Kojokperi–Challa-Jimpensi feeder road 9.5km long and Jimpensi–Bayiri-Guonuo 19.5km long.

According to him, both roads are engineered connector roads in poor surface condition, but awarded on Contract for the rehabilitation under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Guonuo–Bayiri–Jimpensi feeder road (19.5km)”.

The contract, he said was awarded on 9th March 2018 and commenced on 9th May 2018 for completion by 9th September 2019 funded by the Ghana Road Fund.

However, the Contractor abandoned the project after achieving 62 percent physical progress due to a delay in payment for work done, saying, “Warning letters have been issued to the Contractor reminding him of his contractual obligations to complete the remaining works.”

The Contractor, the Minister explained has indicated his willingness to go back to the site after payment of the outstanding certificate.

The Minister however explained that there was work on the 10.5 Kojokperi–Challa-Jimpensi road but Engineering design studies have been conducted on the Kojokperi– Challa-Jimpensi road.

He said the execution of the works will be considered under the 2024 budget subject to the availability of funds.

But Sandaare charged the government through the Ministry of Roads and Highways to fix the deplorable Kojokperi– Challa-Jimpensi road which is causing post-harvest loss to farmers.

He the poor road is hindering farmers from accessing market centers to sell their bountiful harvest and waiting till 2024 to have the road fixed would be an unfair treatment to his people.

For him, the government must prioritize roads in the rural communities to boost the local economy, stressing that, the dilapidated nature of the road was not only scaring agriculture investors away but had also compelled farmers to reduce their farm size thereby deepening the poverty situation in the area.

Source: expressnewsghana.com

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