Roads and Transport Committee ignorant of Asokwa road project

The Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament says the Committee has no idea about the recently halted Oforikrom-Asokwa Bypass project in the Ashanti Region which started in 2008.

According to Michael Coffie Boampong, the project agreement was signed by former committee members in the erstwhile NPP Administration so they are not privy to its contents. 

Over 400 workers employed at the construction site have been asked to go home by the contractor, South Korean Shinsiuing Engineering and Construction. The management cites government’s failure to pay for about 90 per cent of the work done per the contract agreement. They said they had given government persistent reminders to pay up but they had not yielded any positive results.

The workers say they are afraid they may not be recalled again after a similar occurrence on the Sofoline exchange also in the Ashanti Region.

However, Mr. Boampong told Adom News that nobody has petitioned the committee so they cannot take a decision on the issue.

“If they petition us or the Speaker fine, then we will look into the matter. Don’t be surprised if I have not heard; I can’t be listening to all the radio stations because they are many,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Joe Gidisu has contradicted reports that Government has not fulfilled its part of the contract. In an interview with Joy FM, he stated that government had no arrears to pay.

“It was only last week that they wrote directly to the Urban Roads indicating that contribution into the project finished and government responsibility in that direction is now being processed. There are no arrears to be paid to the contractor by government in that wise. As a senior cabinet minister I will be the last to sabotage government,” he stated.

Story by Maame Esi Nyamekye Thompson/Adom News/Ghana