Yankah gets tough with contractors

Mampong (Ashanti), 18th June 99 -

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister has warned contractors on government projects in the region to ensure that they work within the contract sum and periods allowed for the completion of the projects.

He said the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) will no longer allow for variations or payment for any additional cost on projects which extend beyond the contract period.

Mr Yankah gave the warning when he inspected projects in the Sekyere West district as part of a familiarisation tour of the district on Wednesday.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work by Richway Contractors who are constructing the 525 million-cedi administrative block for the district assembly as well as the market complex for Mampong.

The Regional Minister gave Hansas Contractors, undertaking the construction of the five-kilometre Mampong-Nsuta road, six months to complete the project or it would be taken away from them.

The Regional Tender Board awarded the project in 1996 and it was expected to be completed within 18 months.

Mr Joseph Anokye, Highways Project Supervisor at the site, told the Regional Minister that the road was to be tarred and new culverts and drains were to be constructed.

Some of the culverts and drains have been completed, he said, adding, "we are not working today because the starter of the grader has broken down and is being repaired".

Mr Yankah and Nana Osei Bonsu II, Asante-Mamponghene jointly laid cement blocks for work to begin on a 228 million cedi library complex for the district being financed from the common fund.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Asante-Mampong and Nsuta, Mr Yankah said the government with assistance from the World Bank is undertaking the Urban Five project to improve conditions in some of the district capitals.

He said the government does not discriminate in the allocation of the common fund for the districts but based on a formula which takes into consideration the population, basic infrastructure available and the ability of the assemblies to generate their own sources of revenue.

The Regional Minister said the region abounds in potentials, which could be developed for the benefit of the people. They should, therefore, not allow partisan politics to take much of their time but endeavour to unite and co-operate with each other for the development of their communities, districts and the region.

Nana Osei Bonsu said the people of Asante-Mampong are now united and co-operate with each other for development and hoped the assembly will help the people to rehabilitate the deplorable roads, build a new place of convenience and complete the abandoned market before the end of the year.

Nana Adu Agyei Bonsafo II, Nsutahene, appealed to the government to upgrade the polyclinic in the town to a hospital, to rehabilitate access roads from Nsuta to other communities and to complete the infrastructure at the Nsutaman secondary school to accommodate more students and tutors.

GRi?/