The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, has sent a strong word of caution to President Akufo-Addo over the abandonment of the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road.
“We too are tax payers, and deserve nothing less. The project must not stall,” Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, the Upper East Regional COmmunication Officer warned when he spoke at the maiden edition of the NDC Communication Bureau’s “Upper East Region Must Know’ series today, February 21, 2023 at the party’s Regional Office in Zuarungu.
Queiroz Galvao MI, the Brazilian contractor working on the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom Road in the Upper East Region has packed out of the site.
When A1 Radio’s News team visited portions of the road where the contractor worked, Friday, February 10, 2023, it was clear that the contractor had packed all the firm’s equipment and left the site.
Though the Upper East Regional Road and Highways Directorate is yet to comment on the matter, a deep-throat source who spoke to Moses Apiah explained that the contractor’s abrupt leave could be attributed to the inability of the government to disburse monies for work to continue.
The NDC suggested that the government had run out of funds to pursue the construction of the road.
“In recent weeks as witnessed by you all, the construction firm, QGMI a subsidiary of
Constructutora Queiroz Galvao S/A working on the major parts of the Bolgatanga-BawkuPolimakom road project has moved all its heavy equipment and machines out of the region. Friends from the media, our sources tell us that this recent suspension of the project is due to the Domestic Debt Structuring Programme (DDEP) imposed on ghanaians by this wicked government as part of the IMF’s conditionalities. This was alluded to by president Akufo-Addo at a meeting with Western Regional House of Chiefs at the Jubilee House on Monday, 30th January, 2023 as cited in a City Newsroom report on 31 January, 2023.”
Mr. Salifu Abdallah continued to call on the people of the Upper East Region to rise up and demand that the construction of the road continues.
“Again, we wish to remind H.E Akufo-Addo of his pledge to the chiefs and people of the region to complete the project as scheduled during his visits to same. We know this government cannot be trusted in redeeming promises; however, we do not expect them to renege on this one. We admonish the you the media, GPRTU, transport owners, drivers, and all in the region to join in the call for the continuation and completion of the project as scheduled. We too are tax payers, and deserve nothing less. The project must not stall. Ladies and gentlemen, government must not abandon the project at this time considering the enormous benefits it will bring the region and country. The project will among others benefits lower vehicular operating costs, lead to reduction in pedestrian and vehicular congestion and consequently cost of transportation for both passenger and cargo. It will enhance economic activities, improve public transport and standard of living of citizenry, be a catalyst for economic growth, create jobs for the skilled and non-skilled labour in the area, reduce loss of productive man-hours, and improve commuter and pedestrian safety along the project corridor.”
Read full the full statement here: UPPER EAST MUST KNOW SERIES PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE REGIONAL COMMUNICATION OFFICER OF NDC, COMRADE ABDALLAH JONATHAN SALIFU, ON ABADONMENT OF THE BOLGATANGA-BAWKUPULIMAKOM ROAD PROJECT.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
