The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has indicated that government is currently in the process of reviewing nearly 2000 road contracts awarded over the years due to various contractual breaches.
Out of this number, 136 projects have so far been canceled. "It is a continuous process and so many contracts and road projects are involved," the Minister said.
He said the review was necessary to sanitise the system but was however quick to add that government will continue to pay contractors who have properly completed their projects.
Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo on Monday at a forum in Accra lamented on how some road contractors inflate the cost of roads.
Related:Â Present evidence of road contract inflation, Osafo Marfo told.
The senior Minister who called for value for money projects wondered why the cost of road per kilometre in Ghana is higher compared to internationally standardised ones, insisting that the cost of road construction in the country should conform to international standards.
However, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Roads and Highways Committee, Mr Kwame Agbodza, rubbished the allegations and charged the senior minister to back his claims with evidence.
“What is preventing this government from telling us which particular road contract has been inflated, who is the contractor and consultant. Why can’t they do this simple thing and spare this country the agony of every day waking up and telling us contracts have been inflated…he said.
Related:Â Inflating contract sums negatively affecting country - Osafo Marfo
The deputy Minister during a discussion on an Accra-based FM station indicated that government has settled over a billion Ghana cedis debt owed to road contractors over a period of 5 years.
www.primenewsghana.com/ Ghana News