The Upper West Parliamentary Caucus has urged contractors working on the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga Road projects under the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme to expedite work and deliver high-quality roads that can stand the test of time.
It said that was necessary considering the importance of that stretch in linking communities and economic activities within the region as well as improving interregional trade and business.
Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, the Member of Parliament for Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Constituency and leader of the Caucus, said this during the group’s inspection visit to sections of the Wa-Tumu Road project to assess progress of work.
The Caucus was also expected to inspect the Wa-Sawla-Bole-Bamboi stretch to ascertain the progress of work on that road.
Dr. Sandaare indicated that the visit was to enable the MPs to observe and obtain firsthand information about the projects to report to the Minister responsible for Roads and Highways for the necessary actions to be taken.
He said as representatives of the people of the region, the MPs had a responsibility to monitor projects being implemented in the region to help ensure value for money.
Dr. Sandaare said they would continue to engage the Roads and Highways Minister and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the projects were completed within schedule and of high quality.
Mr Bede Ziedeng, the MP for Lawra Constituency, said the inspection was particularly important because some sections of the public were uncertain about the implementation of the Big Push Road projects.
He said having firsthand relevant information about the projects would enable the MPs to confidently account to their constituents and the people of the region.
Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu, tjhe MP for Wa West Constituency, commended the Sissala West District Chief Executive (DCE) for actively monitoring the project in his jurisdiction.
He also urged other Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) to regularly monitor the project areas to put the contractors on their toes in the delivery of the projects.
“Visit the site with your various engineers. If there is a need for you to talk to the site engineer, you do that.
So that at the end of the day, when these roads are completed, they will be worth it or useful for our own good”, Mr Toobu said.
Mr Fuseini Gbene Abudu, the Sissala West DCE, observed that the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga Road was important for the transportation of agricultural produce to major market centres, making its timely completion essential to driving the local economy.
The contractors in charge of the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga Road included P&W Ghanem Ltd, Greenhouse International Development Group Ghana Ltd, Maripoma Construction Company Ltd, Aschal Construction Ltd and Mawums Ltd.
While commending Ghanem and Ascal for the progress of work so far, Mr Abudu expressed concern about the slow pace of work by Greenhouse and Maripoma, whose sections included some of the worst portions of the Hain-Tumu Road.
The P&W Ghanem, which was working on about 22Km of the Wa-Hain section of the road, had already undergone primer sealing and the first sealing process.
Mr Caesar Wadia, who spoke on behalf of the company, said the second sealing was expected to be completed within a few days.