A bilateral agreement has been reached among Ghana and six countries to waive visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and ordinary passports.
The countries which opened their borders to Ghanaians in a vice versa arrangement were Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Hungary, India, Iran and Morocco.
Papers to that effect were presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorko Botchwey as part of yesterday’s public business to parliament.
After the papers containing the visa waivers were read, the Speaker of the House, Prof. Aaron Ocquaye then called for a vote on the issue which received an overwhelming endorsement by the members of the house.
In another business of the day, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwesi Amoako Atta in response to a question by Sophia Karen Ackuaku, Member of Parliament for Domeabra-Obom constituency, in the Greater Accra Region as to the steps taken by the ministry to install road safety signs on the Kasoa–Amasaman–Obuom–Domeabra road.
He said the contract for the provision of road line markings and signs including provision of road furniture were awarded on November 21, 2016 and commenced on December 14, 2016 for completion on December 14, 2018.
Mr Atta explained that the completion date was revised to December 14, 2019, however, the roadline marking and signs, construction of speed ramps and bus stops on the said road were completed.
He said the installation of street lights has been done on Kasoa section of the road and on the bridge over river Densu near Ashalaga, adding that the street lighting of the Amasaman end was still outstanding.
Mr Atta said assessment for the installation of street lights at Amasaman section to other communities along the road has been carried out for consideration when funds from Ghana Road Fund which was financing the project became available.
Answering similar questions from Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region on plans for Esiama-Nkroful-Assasebre-Aiyinasi road which was in bad shape, the minister said the road was awarded on contract for partial reconstruction in September 2015, adding that the contractor in the project discontinued the works, citing non-payment of work done as the main reason.
He said the Ghana Highway Authority agreed that Ghana Gas Company fund the reconstruction of the Esiama-Nkroful-Aiyinasi road project in three phases, while the remaining 20-km section of the road would be awarded on contract in the last quarter of 2019.
pix – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorko Botchwey
BY LAWRENCE MARKWEI
