Bolga–Tamale Highway, Bolga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road Critical to Upper East — Regional Minister Engages Roads Minister
The Upper East Regional Minister has identified the Tamale–Bolgatanga Highway and the Bolga–Bawku–Pulmakom Highway as critical road networks in the region that require urgent attention.
He made the remarks when he joined the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and the Deputy Minister, Alhassan Suhuyini, to inspect progress on the Navrongo–Chuchuliga–Sandema road project under the government’s Big Push initiative.
The Regional Minister also advocated for the prompt payment of contractors to help fast-track completion of the project.
“I am happy that you also mentioned that you will be looking at the Tamale-Bolga road and that you will be looking at the Bolga-Bawku-Pulmakom road. Those are critical roads in this region and I am happy that you are here and promised to do that for us,” the minister said.
During the inspection, the Minister for Roads and Highways noted that the contractor on the project, Myturn, has made significant progress since his last visit and is slightly ahead of schedule.
“I am aware that if they had more resources, they could have been approaching even 40 percent (of project completion) by now,” the roads minister said.
Hon. Agbodza further indicated that completing the road linking Wa to Bolgatanga remains a key priority for the government.
“It is our marching orders to ensure that, that is done. We are on course,” he said.
On the Bolgatanga–Tamale road, the Roads Minister explained that Parliament had approved $158.6 million for its construction under the previous administration. However, he noted that JMC, an Indian firm awarded the contract, was paid nearly $30 million for mobilisation but failed to deliver on the project. He added that the road should have been completed last year if the project had proceeded as planned.
He also disclosed that his ministry will be working with the Office of the Attorney General of Ghana to retrieve the money from JMC for work not done.
According to him, attempts by the previous administration to recover the funds were unsuccessful due to jurisdictional challenges.
Nonetheless, he said the President has directed the ministry to explore alternative approaches to complete the road. He added that the Ghana Highways Authority is currently working on the matter, and that in the near future, the President will “announce exactly what we want to do with that.”
Source: BlueWaves Radio 93.7Fm / Maurice Duncan/ Upper East Region
