Jema (B/A), July 3, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Thursday lauded the efforts of contractors engaged on two major road projects in the region and gave the assurance of every support for the completion of the projects on schedule.

He stressed that in the spirit of continuity the projects, initiated by the NPP government, would be continued and the current government would ensure that they were completed successfully. The projects are the partial reconstruction of the 30 kilometre Techiman-Wenchi road being undertaken by Messrs P & W Ghanem Limited. The contract for the project, costing GHC 15,310,888.64, was awarded on January 24 last year and is scheduled to be completed by May 5, 2010. The other project is the rehabilitation of the 60 kilometre Techiman-Kintampo trunk road being undertaken by Messrs Shinsung Engineering and Construction Limited, whose contract was awarded on June 23 last year and is scheduled to be completed by March 2011. The contract price is GHC 36,058,579.20 provided by the African Development Bank, Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Fund. The Regional Minister noted that this was an important road, particularly as the main route for the easy movement of people from neighbouring countries and would boost economic activities in Ghana and the sub region.

"The completion of this road is particularly very important as it would boost the socio-economic development of not only this region and Ghana, but the rest of the sub-region," Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said. The Regional Minister was on an inspection tour of government projects, which included the construction of a two-storey district police headquarters,

a three-storey administration block for the district assembly, and a three-bedroom medical officer's bungalow at Jema in Kintampo South district.

He congratulated the contractors for "a good job" done so far and assured them that government was mobilizing funds for the settlement of their unpaid certificates this year, to enable them to complete the projects on schedule.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo on the way to Wenchi visited the Local Authority Junior High School building at Nkosia whose roofing was ripped off during a rainstorm last year. The students currently hold classes in the local Presbyterian Church building. The Regional Minister instructed the Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Yaw Osei Agyei who was among the entourage, to ensure that the school was rehabilitated before the beginning of the next academic year. Also in the entourage were Mr. Alex Kyeremeh, Techiman Municipal Chief Executive and officials of the Ghana Highways Authority and Architectural Engineering Services Limited.