Report on two road projects launched in Accra
A report on the assessment of the construction of two major roads—one in Greater Accra Region, and the other in the Central Region—has been launched in Accra.
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The report, which is an initiative of the Ghana Contracts Monitoring Group (GCMG), seeks to promote transparency, accountability and value for money in the delivery of contract awards and project execution.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Vitus Azeem, Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative, said that the GCMG had monitored the widening of the La-Teshie road in the Greater Accra Region and the Bekwai-Assin-Praso road and bridge construction works in the Central Region.
Assessment criteria
Mr Azeem also noted that the monitoring of the two road projects was guided by a monitoring format which assessed the project details, financial analysis, stakeholder service and environmental health.
Others parameters which were used in the monitoring are safety measures, quality of service and contract documentation.
According to Mr Azeem, the George Walker Bush Highway, also known as the N1 Highway, was used as the basis for comparison.
Report on the La-Teshie
The Greater Accra regional branch of the GCMG reported that the La-Teshie road was 90 per cent complete as of December 2012.
According to Mr Osei Asante of the GCMG, the project was slated to have commenced on September 13, 2007 and completed in May 13, 2008.
The project, however, lasted for more than four years as a result of delayed payments to the contractor, Messrs Big Aidoo Construction Limited.
Report on the Bekwai-Assin-Praso road
The monitoring team in the Central Region reported that there was healthy dialogue between stakeholders and the contractors, Tokura Corporation, a Japanese construction company.
The report said the construction of the road so far had no specific provision for the needs of the disabled, the aged and children.
It, therefore, recommended that the road design should include pedestrian walkways for the disabled, children and the aged.
It also called for a local content policy that would employ the youth in the surrounding communities.
In his response, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highway, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, acknowledged the role of civil societies in ensuring transparency and accountability in the construction of roads.
He added that the report would provide an avenue for a strong partnership between government and civil societies.
Mr Adjei Mensah, however, stated that the responses of some indicted state agencies had not been incorporated in the report.
