Newly created regions: 96 Projects underway - Dan Botwe
Massive infrastructural development is taking place in all the six newly created regions, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, has assured.
He disclosed that in all, there were 96 projects ongoing while some had been completed and inaugurated.
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The projects, he said, included six regional administration blocks under construction, with one completed; 24 two-storey blocks for decentralised agencies, with three completed and one inaugurated while 66 bungalows were being constructed.
Twelve of those bungalows have been completed and five of them inaugurated.
Wrong assertions
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, Mr Botwe said evidence of the unprecedented infrastructural development abounded in the regions.
The minister who was throwing more light on the developments taking place in the new regions, also debunked assertions by a section of the society that very little development projects were taking place in the newly created regions.
On average, he said, 70 per cent of all the projects had been completed and they were all expected to be fully completed and delivered by December this year.
Those that had been completed and inaugurated were done ahead of schedule, he pointed out.
Vehicles
Furthermore, Mr Botwe added that in May 2019, President Akufo-Addo presented 48 cross-country vehicles (eight vehicles per region) and 30 motorbikes (five motorbikes per region) to the newly established RCCs to ensure smooth operations in their respective regions.
He said some of the ongoing projects included Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) offices, offices for various departments and agencies, staff bungalows and road construction.
Beneficiary agencies include Feeder Roads, Education, Health, Agriculture and Security.
RCC offices
In each of the six regions, construction of three-storey RCC offices are taking place, with the one for Sefwi Wiawso completed and handed over.
He indicated that the remaining five would be completed and handed over by December this year.
The construction of 24 two-storey building offices for regional directorates of Health, Education, Agriculture and Feeder Roads were ongoing, with 3 completed and one inaugurated.
Bungalows
Sixty-six bungalows are also being constructed, with each region benefiting from 11. Out of the 66, 12 have been completed and five inaugurated.
Mr Botwe stated that on the average all the remaining projects were 70 per cent complete and that they were expected to be fully completed by December this year.
Those contractors who have completed their projects had done that ahead of schedule.
He added that to augment the fleet of vehicles to the RCCs, the ministry further presented additional 18 pick-up vehicles (3 per region) to enhance their operations in March, 2020.
Roads
He disclosed that each region was benefiting from the construction of two critical roads which were at advanced stages.
Mr Botwe noted that President Akufo-Addo did not just create the six new regions but had followed up with massive infrastructural development.
He explained that the 2020 budget (paragraphs 375-377) as well as the 2020 Mid-Year budget statement (Paragraphs 271-273) captured the clear intentions of the projects that the government had outlined for these new regions.
Savannah
Citing the example of Bole in the Savannah Region, he said the government was constructing two two-storey Regional administration blocks for the Department of Agriculture, with two Senior Staff bungalows which were nearing completion.
He added that in the Savannah Regional capital, Damongo, a two-storey administration block for the RCC and 2-storey administration block for the Regional Directorate of Education were being constructed.
Mr Botwe explained that in spite of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government was working assiduously to execute the projects.
Police
He told the Daily Graphic that plans were on course for a contract to be awarded for the construction of six three-storey administration blocks for Regional Police Commands.
Also under construction would be six three-storey flats (two bedroom flats, 12 units) for staff of the Regional Police Commands.
Under the contract, 12 bungalows will also be constructed for Regional Police Commanders and their deputies.
Gratitude
Mr Botwe expressed gratitude to the chiefs in the various regions for their support and for providing an average of 300 acres of land for the construction of the development projects.