Hofedo projects abandoned

Some projects which were began in November, last year, at Hofedo, a fast developing suburb in the Ho municipality have been abandoned.
The projects include two major bridges which were constructed to deal with huge water overflow during rainy periods.

A drainage system which was being constructed had also been halted, causing inconvienience in moving around the locality compared to the relative ease that existed before the projects took off.

One of the bridges connects the Zongo-Morleme junction to the Global Evangelical Church and then to the Da Abla area.

Another bridge, near the Anointed Batik Centre, has also been abandoned.

People are unable to have easy access to their homes with their vehicles.

These situations are having different levels of impact on the people of the area.

While it had been a curse for some people, it had also served to be a blessing for others with criminal intentions.

A taxi driver, Felix Ekyi, living in the area who parked his car away from home due to the situation recollects that “the following morning, when I got to the area, my car tape, battery and other essentials had been stolen.”

A barber in the area, Jay Gozeo, told the Daily Graphic  that the projects which started in November, last year, was a political gimmick and that he knew for sure that after the elections, they would be abandoned.

A food vendor, Madam Dora Atsupie said at the time of construction, they were told that after constructing it, the bridge would take three months to dry “but we are now in the tenth month and this has seriously disturbed my business”.

Who takes the blames?

The blame has been placed at the doorsteps of the Ho Municipal Assembly.

But the Municipal Director, Mr Edward Gidiglo, explained that the projects under question were not directly under the funding of the assembly but the Department of Urban Roads.

He said that the stalling of the projects was of  concern to the assembly but they were aware that funds from the central government had not been released yet for the project to continue.

“Those projects have not been abandoned. Immediately money becomes available, work will continue”, he assured.

Responding to the view of the projects starting in November, last year, close to the elections and thereby being a political gimmick, he said that “projects do not only start in November and in election years”.

“Just because it is an election year does not mean we should fold our arms and sit down. You can start a project anytime and a challenge could arise anytime”, he said.

He was of the opinion that even if there had been a change in government, any government that came would have continued whatever project the previous one had started.

Urban roads’ response

When the Urban Roads Engineer, Mr Mike Dzisi was reached, he explained that the issue of the bridges’ accessibility was not one of funding but the absence of equipment.

He said the contractor on the project had given a timeline which had elapsed due to the absence of a roller of the required capacity.

“I have summoned a meeting between my office and the contractor for him to give us a definite period for completion of the project”, he stressed.

He added that for now, the road leading to the Global Evangelical Church had been opened to traffic with some temporary filling done.

By Victor Kwawukume/Daily Graphic/Ghana
Writer’s email: [email protected]