Road fund jumps up by GH¢9m within six months

Ghana’s total Road Fund accrual from January to June this year, stood at GH¢126 million, representing an increase of about GH¢9 million over the amount recorded during the same period in 2012, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, has announced.

He attributed the increase in the revenue inflow to regular field visits by the ministry to ensure that funds were being collected in conformity to laid down procedures and paid into the designated bank account.

The improved revenue generation into the Road Fund for the maintenance of the road networks came at a time when a total of GH¢706 million, under the 2013 Budget, was approved for the Road sub-sector, out of which about GH¢350 million had been released as at June 2013, according to him.

Alhaji Sulemani told members of the Progressive Road Contractors Association (PROCA) in Accra: “As a result of the many interventions that have been made in the sector since the last couple of years, the condition mix of the road network has improved from 29% good, 27% fair and 44% poor in 2000, to 43% good, 25% fair and 32% poor as at end of 2012.”

Given the high cost of road construction and maintenance in the country, coupled with the high demand for roads by the citizenry, government allocations to the sector may be considered inadequate, according to the Minister.

Explaining: “That is why there are huge arrears of monies to be paid to contractors, spreading well over a year. I wish to, therefore, seek the support of the public for the Road Fund to acquire sufficient funds to be able to cover a bigger percentage of our road maintenance needs.”

Alhaji Sulemani, therefore, assured the contractors that the challenge confronting the industry in general, and the roads sub sector in particular, were of grave concern to the government. To this end, plans were underway to address them.

The new president of the Progressive Road Contractors Association (PROCA), Mrs. Joana Adjei, appealed to the government and financial institutions, as key partners in the construction industry, to come up with a financial plan that would assist contractors to procure equipment needed for their projects.