Contractors working on various road infrastructure projects in the Mpohor area in the Western Region have not been paid, the Member of Parliament for the area, Kobina Abbam Aboah Sanie disclosed.

Mr. Abbam Sanie said the nonpayment of contractors has caused undue delays in the execution of most of the road infrastructure projects in the area.

The Mpohor lawmaker further explained how the various road infrastructure projects in the area have been tackled.

“Mpohor District happens to have four major roads. Apowa Kejebiri, through Trebuom, to Adumbanso, to Benso thus the first phase, and the second phase, then, we have Aboadze to Ayiem, which is also the second stretch of the road. Then we have Apimanim, through Bortogyina, Abotareye to Adanse, which is also the third stretch road within the district, and then we have the third one which also runs from Benso through Manso, Ashiem, to Kojokrom.

These, are four major stretch roads that run through the district.  As I speak to you, Aboadze to Ayiem, has been awarded to His Sons Construction, Apowa through Mpohor to Trebuom, which happens to be the first phase of that stretch road, has also been awarded to Justmoh construction, and then, we have Benso through Manso to Ashiem, which has also been awarded to Kingsford construction and then Apimanim through Bortogyina to Abotareye also to Spax construction,” he told Metro TV Online in an interview.

According to him, the three contractors, which are His Sons, Justmoh, and Kingspok Constructions, all started constructing the roads in 2001 and early part of 2002.

“Most of them raised their certificates for payment. It is the payment that has been delayed up to date and that has stalled the construction of the roads,” he said, adding “As a political leadership, and the regional leadership, the Regional Minister, my good self and the DCE, we have made all the efforts,  we have gone to the Finance Minister, we have gone to the Roads Minister,  we have done everything,  pushing for the contractors to be paid.”

He noted that the roads under construction are under two sources of funding, thus COCOBOD funding and the government of Ghana funding.

“The Apowa through Mpohor to Trebuom, was awarded under cocoa roads, therefore, it is under the cocoa roads projects of COCOBOD. then, Ayiem to Aboadze was also awarded under Ghana COCOBOD. Now, we all know within the space of this country, all the road constructions under COCOBOD have been halted, due to lack of funds, and so, the new Agric Minister, Brian Acheampong, organized a conference or a meeting with all Members of Parliament that have road construction within their districts that have been halted. This was done with the Chief Executive of COCOBOD Hon. Boahen Aidoo, and we had a round table meeting and is all have to do with funds, so they are trying to raise funds from somewhere to see how they can pay the contractors to get back on the road, and that is where we are, and that’s a fact,” he emphasized.

Kobina Abbam Aboah Sanie observed that as for the government of Ghana ones, the Manso stretch road, and then Apimanim, also through the help of Vice President Dr Bawumia, they had an opportunity to meet the Finance Minister.

“We have gone to see the Finance Minister and they are working on the documents to get them paid for them to come back to the road, and so this is where we are, with all the forces of political leadership, the DCE, My good self, the Regional Minister, other Ministers representing the region, and even the traditional leaders”

He said “we have gone far, engaging the government and we believe the efforts that we have made, by the grace of God, within the space of time, we will see the contractors back on the road,” the MP concluded.

By: Zambaga Rufai Saminu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana