Austrian Government to assist Ghana

Accra, July 5, GNA - Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways on Monday said the Austrian Government would assist government to secure bridges to be mounted during emergencies. He said the bridges, which could be mounted within a few hours would facilitate movement of people especially in flood prone areas. Mr Gidisu announced this at the inauguration of a nine-member Ministerial Advisory Board of the Ministry in Accra. The members were drawn from Ghana Institute of Engineers, Ministries of Local Government, Finance and Economic Planning, Food and Agriculture, Association of Contractors and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The Board among others is to promote constant interaction between the Ministry and users of its services, as well as advise the sector Minister on adjustment in policy direction, planning and objectives, and operational strategies.

It would as a matter of urgency also advise government in addressing nature of roads in cocoa producing areas as well as roads in the city. Mr Gidisu, who is Chairman of the Board, noted that as a Ministry responsible for the formulation of policies and programmes designed towards the development and maintenance of road infrastructure, it would be guided by government's agenda of providing quality road infrastructure and the needs of the users of the road network.

In line with that, the Minister said, government with the support of the European Union had engaged the services of a consultant to produce an Integrated Transport Plan, which would be the basis for future planning and investment in the transport sector.

Mr Gidisu noted that in facilitating regional integration, it had become imperative to provide good quality and all weather road infrastructure that would facilitate connection between Ghana and her neighbouring countries.

He said there was an increasing demand by all sections of communities for surfaced dressed and asphalt roads, and therefore tasked members to offer advice to address challenges in the face of increasing demand for good roads, limited resources provided by government, and inadequate capacity by local contractors.

"We believe that your pieces of advice would go a long way in the effective discharge of our mandate of formulating sound policies towards the provision of a good road infrastructure," he said.

Mr Gidisu pointed out that management of the country's road infrastructure required high responsibility and integrity on the part of those in position of trust, adding, "our road supervisors have a duty to ensure that resources are efficiently and effectively utilized" He charged the members to bring their individual knowledge, skills and competence to improve on performance of the Ministry.

Professor Samuel I. K. Ampadu, member of Ghana Institute of Engineers, and the Board, expressed their readiness to put their expertise at the disposal of the Ministry to move the country forward. He said "good roads accelerate socio-economic growth of every country".