Tumu (U/W), April 27, GNA - Mr. Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Roads and Highways, has directed that all broken bridges and culverts in the Upper West Region be re-constructed immediately before the rainy season. He has therefore urged contractors working on bridges and culverts to speed up their work or have their contracts terminated and re-awarded to competent contractors.

He said government was committed to improve roads in the region and urged road contractors not to thwart government efforts by delaying execution of projects.

Mr. Gidisu gave the directive when he went on a two-day tour of the region.

The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Mahmud Khalid, the Upper West Regional Minister, and engineers from the Department of Feeder Roads, Urban Roads and the Ghana Highway Authority.

Mr. Gidisu toured Wa West and Wa East districts and part of the Sissala East District and inspected the Wechiau-Gaa, Wa-Lassia roads which were awarded on contract at a total cost of 49.954 Ghana cedis. He expressed dissatisfaction at the pace of work on the two projects and urged the contractor to speed up work to avoid termination of the contract. Mr. Gidisu also inspected the Ambalaara and the Kulun rivers along the Bulenga-Yaala road in the Wa East District and promise to initiate the construction of bridges on them.

He said the government would construct a new road from Walewale in the Northern Region through the Upper East to link up with the Upper West Region to open up the three regions. Mr. Gidisu also inspected the Nadowli-Jirapa-Nandom-Hamile road and gave the assurance that soon funds would be released for the contractor to complete work.

At Jirapa, Mr. Gidisu directed that a bridge be constructed on the Jirapa-Ping road following the collapse of the old that claimed the lives of two school children.

The tour took Mr. Gidisu to Tumu where he gave the assurance that the tarring of the Tumu town roads would soon be completed to give it a facelift while efforts were being made to construct a bridge on River Waalifuo near Bugubelle in the Sissala East District. 27 April 10