Minister gives ultimatum to road contractor
Nii Armah Ashietey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Thursday gave the contractor working on the MATS–Teshie Township road project up to Friday July 15 to complete work or lose the contract.
He pointed out that work on the project had delayed making it difficult for motorists plying the road, adding “The right thing must be done at the right time.”
Nii Ashietey gave the three weeks ultimatum during an inspection tour of the project site at Teshie as well as the Boade-Nungua, Teshie Link Bridge Overpass and the Spintex Polo Sight Project to assess the progress of work.
He noted that to get value for money there was the need for effective planning, which is critical in embarking on any project to avoid any lapses and expressed utmost dissatisfaction at the progress of work on the Teshie Road project.
Nii Ashietey said apart from the Spintex Polo Sight Project, all the other projects are not progressing as expected due to poor planning that had created lots of inconvenience to motorists who ply the roads.
Mr Michael Aidoo, Managing Director of Big Aidoo Construction Firm working on the MATS-Teshie township project, said it was expected to be completed February 2010, but had delayed due to changes in alignment, review of design and financial constraint.
He said 75 per cent of the two lane dual carriage road with walk and bicycle lanes had been completed and gave the assurance that they would work around the clock to meet the July 15 deadline.
At the Teshie Link Bridge Overpass, work was 85 per cent complete, but the contractor attributed the delay to financial constraint, adding that since the expected completion date had elapsed they would endeavour to finish as soon as funds were allocated to the management of Abdelco Company, the contractors.
Mr Gideon Appiah Amankwah, Project Manager of Ussuya Ghana Limited, contractors on the Spintex Polo Sight Project, said despite the financial constraint, they were doing their best to make use of the system and work to meet the deadline.
He said the project, which was awarded in 2010 was 50 per cent complete and was expected to be completed mid next year.
Nii Ashietey also inspected work on the West Enkpo road being undertaken by Obric-Sala Construction Company and the Boade-Nungua road by Frandesco International Company which both contractors had abandoned the projects.
Source: GNA