Engineers and Planners excavator loading tipper trucks at the project site.
Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Dramani Mahama and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Engineers and Planners Construction Limited, has been awarded the contract to complete the rehabilitation of some roads in the Ashaiman Municipality.
The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) recently abrogated the contract of Legna Construction Firm, which did some asphaltic work on a dual carriage road from the Ashaiman Timber Market Roundabout to the ASHMA.
Government, in consultation with the ASHMA, was said to have repackaged the contract and awarded it to the construction company of the President’s brother, which has built a camp opposite the Ashaiman main lorry terminal.
Engineers and Planners, since yesterday, has begun some excavation work and filling of the roads with laterite, coupled with some grading to level up the road. The work has increased traffic congestion and a lot of dust is being spread on shop owners and business operators along that stretch.
Some agitated drivers had warned the ASHMA that they would hit the streets if the road was not completed by the end of this year. The initial budget for the project in 2010 was estimated at about GH¢10 million.
James Cudjoe, Engineer of Legna Construction Firm, when contacted by DAILY GUIDE, explained that the Assembly owed his company about GH¢4 million from work he carried in the area.
Ibrahim Baidoo, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Ashaiman when contacted, confirmed that the contract had been given to a new construction firm.
According to him, Government terminated the contract of Legna Construction firm because it had become financially incapacitated due to government’s inability to settle monies it owes the company.
He asked the agitated drivers to rescind their decision to embark on a demonstration, assuring them that the road would soon be put to good shape.
When contacted by DAILY GUIDE at the site, a representative of Engineers and Planners declined to comment on the project noting that ‘I am not in the position to talk about this project you can contact the Assembly.’
Mr. David Kisey, Deputy Maintenance Engineer at the Department of Urban Roads at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue and directed this reporter to his boss, who was on leave.
By Vincent Kubi, Ashaiman
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