Road Fund carries forward over Ghc230m indebtedness – Minister

The deputy minister of Roads and Highways says the Ghana Road Fund has carried forward an indebtedness of Ghc230.86 million from last year to this year.

Mr. Isaac Adjei-Mensah also indicated that the government is considering a public/private partnership arrangement in funding road maintenance and would be more responsive to the rehabilitation of deplorable roads in the country.

The move, he noted, was due to the fact that 40 percent of road networks were not attended to annually due to insufficient funds.

In addition, the fund, which is mandated to finance routine and periodic maintenance of roads in the country, carried forward an indebtedness of Ghc230.86 million from last year to this year, he said.

The Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, made this known at a forum organized by the Management of Ghana Road Fund in Takoradi.

He said the government would adopt Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement with private corporate entities in order to fast-track road maintenance and accelerate national development.

Mr Francis Dogbey, Acting Chief Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, said good road networks would significantly reduce the cost of vehicle operations.

“When we have good road networks, the cost of vehicle operation will reduce three times and that will ensure efficiency and mobility of both human and vehicular traffic,” he said.

He urged utility companies to desist from cutting through roads to lay their cables underground since that practice often deteriorates conditions of roads in the country.

The Acting Regional Road Maintenance Engineer, Mr. John Owusu Duah, mentioned some roads that are being rehabilitated as Tarkwa Government Hospital road, Shama town roads, Sankor/Cape Three Points road, Bodi town roads, Sekondi/Takoradi arterial roads and Benchema/Osei-Kojokrom road.

He added that there were other routine maintenance of some feeder roads in some districts in the Region including Jomoro, Ellembelle, Mpohor and Wassa Amenfi.

The participants appealed to management of the Road Fund to ensure judicious use of the Fund.