Gov't alone cannot build and fix roads-Quaye Kuma

Bolgatanga (UE), May 13, GNA - The Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Dr. Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, has observed that Government alone can not maintain the road network of about 67,000 kilometres in the country. The burden of road maintenance should be seen to be a shared responsibility between the Government who constructs the road and the road user.

Dr Kwei-Kumah who was addressing a public forum on Road Fund held in Bolgatanga, Upper East on Thursday, said currently, the Fund could only sustain about 60 per cent of the maintenance of road network in the country. He said Government was studying some recommendations made by the Ministry to make the Fund more responsive to road maintenance needs. According to the Deputy Minister, Government was exploring other financial methods as a long term pre-financing strategy to carry out road maintenance.

He entreated road users to pay their levies promptly into the Fund to enable the Fund bring about proper maintenance of the road system. Mr. Dawuda Hakeem, the Vice Chairman of the Association of Road Contractors in the Upper East Region, revealed that in 2007 there were nine road projects that were advertised in the Upper Region but could not be awarded and said this could be one of the factors that had caused the deplorable nature of some of the roads in the Region.

He pointed out that whilst other Regions benefited from the package of such contracts at that time, the Upper East Region never benefited due to selfish and irresponsible behaviour of some officials.

Answering the question why the contracts were not awarded, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Highways Authority, Mr. David Hammond said the incident happened during the time of his predecessor but information was that during the tender process it was noticed that the tender box was broken and that was why the contracts were not awarded. Professor Mahama Salifu, a member of the Ghana Road Fund Board, suggested the need for Government to increase the fuel levy so as to increase the Road Fund.

He explained that despite the recent increase of the road tolls and fees, the revenue was insignificant comparatively to the demands of the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads in the country. 13 May 10