The Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has handed over two road projects in Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region to contractors for work to begin on them.
The roads are 24-kilometre (Km) Pakyi to Antoakrom road and the 4.6km Pakyi Number One and Two town roads.
At a mini durbar of chiefs and people of the area to hand over the projects, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the government was poised “to walk its talk” in order to enhance the road networks not only in the Ashanti Region, but all parts of the country for economic and livelihood improvement.
“We have enhanced our network by far and we are committed to doing more”, and assured the people that the work would be completed on schedule.
The ceremony, which saw the inhabitants highly elated, was part of a two-day tour of the Minister and his entourage of engineers to inspect and hand over projects to contractors in some parts of the Ashanti Region.
He urged the community members to support the contractors to complete the projects and also to avoid theft of their equipment.
Nana Oppong Kyekyeku, the Akwamuhene of Pakyi Number One, thanked the government and was hopeful the work would be completed on schedule.
Earlier at Sokoban, the Minister mentioned that work on the Ahodwo to Trede road, linking the Atwima areas of the Ashanti would resume by end of this April.
According to the Minister, work on the stretch (Ahodwo-Trede) stalled following issues of compensation.
He explained that the original design meant that 500 houses were to be demolished, but there was a need to look at the interest of the people.
“And, as a result, a new design has been made to accommodate the situation where all the structures would not be pulled down”, he emphasised.
In fact, it was observed during the tour that about 90 per cent of the road had been done, leaving just some 800 meters which was stalled as a result of the compensation issues.
The tour also took the Minister to Ejisu to inspect ongoing rehabilitation of major roads within the communities in the municipality.
Mr Asenso Boakye refuted claims that the projects were carried out because of the upcoming by-election in the area.
He said the government was undertaking about 32 road infrastructure projects within the Ejisu Constituency which were being carried out by the urban, feeder and highway departments.
The Minister again noted that the contracts were awarded in the past three months when the late Member of Parliament(MP) for Ejisu, John Ampontuah Kumah, was still alive, insisting, “the constructions are not solely for the upcoming by-election in the Constituency.”
Currently, he noted, about 32 projects were going on in the municipality and none of the projects was awarded in the last three months.
“I’m satisfied with the work going on, the contractors are some of the best we have. I’m confident they will continue to work very hard so that we can complete the project as scheduled.
“These are not by-election projects, the past three years, some of the projects have been going on, and the MP, who passed on, was instrumental in making sure that these projects are designed and constructed,” he pointed out.
The Minister also inspected some critical roads within the Kumasi metropolis-Doti, Ashtown, Buokrom, Manhyia North, Suame, Bantama, Ohwim, Amanfrom, Asuifua, Kokoso, saying, “these are densely populated areas where the Ministry has plans to expedite work this year.”
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
