Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central Constituency and Minister for Environment Science and Technology, Mahama Ayariga, has said the delays in the construction of the Bolgatanga-Bawku road is as a result of delays on the part of Queiroz Galvao, a Brazilian construction firm to produce a bank guarantee.
Work on the much talked about Bolga-Bawku road is yet to commence after President John Dramani Mahama cut sod for the start of its construction on 11th July 2016, with many attributing the delay to several reasons paramount of it being the lack of funds.
But speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East show with Azongo Albert, Hon. Ayariga mentioned that there was a minor issue of mobilization to be paid to the contractor and was expected that the contractor brought a bank guarantee to avert any problems in the future considering the colossal amount being paid for the project.
“There was a minor issue of mobilization to be paid to them so we asked that they provide us with a bank guarantee but at the last minute they provided an Insurance guarantee but the Minister for Roads insists that they bring a bank guarantee because of the colossal amount of money we are paying to them and should they fail us, people will be hurled to court for causing financial loss so we are insisting on a bank guarantee.”
He mentioned that immediately the contractor provides the bank guarantee, money will be released for the contractor to move to site to start work on the road but added that the company is using this period to work on architectural designs.
“The money is lying there at the ministry so they are supposed to just bring a bank guarantee and then take the money and go to site. So they are also using this opportunity to finish their drawings. We insisted that we have done previous drawings of the road and insisted that they take that and move to the site but they said they have higher standards. As we talk, they are even working because when you use the road you will see engineers on the road taking measurement.”
The former Youth and Sports Minister indicated that when work starts, the contractor will work on the Bawku township roads and will construct dual carriage roads in both Zebilla and Bawku promising of quality work which will last long.
“When they come they are not just working on the Bolgatanga-Bawku road but they are also working on the Bawku township roads so it is an extensive work. The township roads are to be done, asphalted and a dual carriage way in Bawku and when they get to Zebilla another dual carriage way would be done and so there is a lot of work to be done.”
He assured people of the Upper East region that although contractors are not seen on site, work is being done to ensure that the much talked about road is worked on to ease the burden of the people.
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh/A1RADIOONLINE.COM/GHANA
