The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has expressed concern over delays by Greenhouse International Development (GH) Limited, the contractor working on the 53.35-kilometre Have–Hohoe Road on the Eastern Corridor in the Volta Region.
He said in spite of giving the contractor a directive to increase the pace of work in July this year, they had only been able to execute 25.3 per cent of the project.
“I must say that the last time I was here, the road was worse than this but they are still way below my expectation.You are not investing enough,” the minister said.
He warned that the contractor would not be granted any extension of time if the firm failed to perform.
Mr Agbodza led a team of engineers from the ministry and the Ghana Highway Authority to assess the progress of work on the road and other projects along the Eastern Corridor road project.
During the inspection, some sections of the road leading to Have were dusty although some water sprinklers of the firm were seen watering parts of the road.
Inspection
Mr Agbodza expressed the concern during an inspection of the Have-Hohoe section of the Eastern Corridor last Tuesday. Portions of the road were under the cocoa road.
“I must be frank with Greenhouse that you are not investing enough in the work. I know the contractor personally, he is capable of doing this work, but his focus is on an Industrial Park which is good because it will create jobs, but he must invest in the road project as well,” he said.
"On the Eastern Corridor currently, your section is the poorest in terms of performance and nobody is happy about saying this. You must work according to our time,” the minister said.
Briefing
Earlier, the Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, Faustina Oppong-Yeboah, said although the side drains and cross culverts had been completed on several sections, significant work remained outstanding, particularly on the remaining 27 kilometres.
She said the contractor had completed sub-base works, while approximately nine kilometres of the remaining 27 kilometres had received base works.
Ms Oppong-Yeboah said on the Nkonya section, about one kilometre of side drains and six cross culverts had been completed.
She said work on the stretch from Nkonya to Alavanyo was yet to commence, while work on the town roads were also outstanding.
Response
Speaking on behalf of Greenhouse International, its Administrator, Gerome Chen, attributed some of the delays to difficulties in the supply of bitumen, which was affecting the construction works.
He, however, outlined plans to complete binder works on identified sections between now and December.
