WESTERN REGION FACES INFRASTRUCTURAL PROBLEMS (PAGE 20)

INFRASTRUCTURAL development is a major contributory factor to the meaningful transformation of any region.
Which is the more reason why infrastructural development, be it road network or civil works is of major concern to the people in the regions.
Western Region is confronted with many problems such as poor infrastructural development, chieftaincy disputes, land disputes and illegal gold mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
While the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (WRCC) is working around the clock to address these problems, it has now come to light that some of the contractors who have been awarded contracts in feeder roads, highways and civil works in the past years, woefully failed to perform.
The situation has contributed to the poor nature of the road network in the region which has militated against the orderly development of the region.
It has been established that a total of about 50 feeder roads and highways as well as civil works contracts awarded to some various contractors who bid and won the contracts in the region in the past years were either abandoned or the contractors failed to perform or their performance left much to be desired.
Some of the contractors were even paid mobilisation funds only to disappear soon after receiving such funds.
The contractors who were awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and to carry out spot improvements of some feeder roads as well as the construction of bridges on some selected feeder roads in the region collected thousands of Ghana cedis, but disappeared after collecting the money.
The contractors include Messrs El-Shine Limited who was awarded a contract for the surface dressing of the Apowa-Adjoa road at a cost of GH¢20,379.29, Maripoma Enterprise Limited who was awarded contract for the rehabilitation of the Juaboso-Bungaro road at the sum of GH¢16,176.76 and also for the rehabilitation of the Kramokrom-Kodjokrom feeder road at the contract sum of GH¢11,937.73.
Others are Messrs Westlande Company Limited who was awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Ayerebo-Ahunyame Aderekazo road at a cost of GH¢9,505.70 and also for the rehabilitation of the Gwira Banso-Kwesikrom feeder road at the contract sum of GH¢7,932.03 and Ghaber (Ghana) Limited who was awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the Nkonya-Dompoase road at cost of GH¢8,999.54.
The rest are Messrs Auroras Limited who was awarded a contract for the spot improvement of the Kokofe-Ashiem feeder road at the sum of GH¢6,055.77, Firmastert Limited who was awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the Dahara Junction-Dahara road at a cost of GH¢14,917.58, Nyagsi Engineering Limited who was given a contract for the rehabilitation of the Dadieso-Kwasuo-Frafraline road at a cost of GH¢44,501.08, Bonso Brothers Group Limited who was given a contract for the spot improvement of the Nkonya-Dompoase road at a contract sum of GH¢19,709.62, Kamsad Construction Limited who was awarded a contract for the surface dressing of the Essiama Town Roads at a cost of GH¢67,415.00 and Eagle Star Enterprise Limited who was given a contract for the construction of a bridge on the Atobiase-Sekyere-Obuasi feeder road at the contract sum of GH¢35,789.37.
Some of the contractors who were awarded contracts on the highways but absconded after being given the contracts included Messrs Frankad Company Limited who was awarded a contract for the upgrading of the Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road and Gabason Construction Works who was given a contract for the sectional regravelling of the Juaboso-Ahenbenso road.
Other contractors whose performance has been found to be very poor and have had their contracts recommended for termination include Messrs Kendicks Construction Limited who was given a contract for the spot improvement of the 9.8 kilometre Sui-Yawkrom-Aprutu-Mesrenyame feeder road in 2007, Jerbarfo Limited who was given a contract for the spot improvement of the 3.6 kilometre Anakum-Dankwawura Number Two road in 2007, Maico (Ghana) Limited who was awarded a contract for the spot improvement of the eight-kilometre Anyinase-Tumentu feeder road phase one in 2008 and phase two of the same road.
Others are Messrs Josano Limited who were given a contract for the spot improvement of the Mile 82 of the Bodi road, Justmoh Construction who was awarded a contract for the surface dressing of the Alabokazo-Eikwe-Tikobo Number One road in 2006, Kamsad Enterprise who were awarded a contract for the surface dressing of the Essiama Town Roads and Rinancand Company Limited who was given a contract for the surface dressing of the Juaboso town roads.
Contractors who have been awarded contracts on the highways but have been recommended for termination as a result of non-performance include Messrs Powatex Investment Limited who was given a contract for the regravelling of the 10-kilometre Elubo-Asemkrom road, Trustsam Limited who was given a contract for the regravelling of the 10-=kilometre Dadieso-Africa road, Heals ‘B’ Limited who was awarded a contract for the regravelling of the Enchi-Dadieso road, Midwest Construction Works Limited who was given a contract for the regravelling of the 10-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road.
Others are Messrs Hodna Construction Limited, for the regravelling of the 10-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road, Assandurff Enterprise Limited, for the partial construction of the Ataneata Junction-Huni Valley road, K.B. Annan Limited, for the rehabilitation of the Enchi town roads, Nyagsi Engineering Limited, for the upgrading of the five-kilometre first phase of the Oseikojokrom-Benchima road and Cymain (Ghana) Limited, for the upgrading of the five-kilometre second phase of the Oseikojokrom-Benchima road.
Contractors who bid and won contracts but have not commenced work include Messrs Alben Construction Works who was awarded a contract in 2008 for the construction of a four-storey accommodation block for the Twin City Special School, Cymain Limited who was awarded a contract in 2003 for the upgrading of the five-kilometre Oseikojokrom-Benchima road and Heals ‘B’ Limited who was awarded a contract in 2002 for the surface dressing of the phase two of the Beposo-Adiembra-Himang road.
These came to light during the inauguration of the reconstituted Western Regional Co-ordinating Council in Sekondi.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as the Presiding Members of the various assemblies to be conversant with the locations of the projects so that they could insist on the right things to be done or report the conduct of the contractors for the necessary action.
He said it was obvious that the WRCC had responsibility towards the holistic development of the region.
“It is against this backdrop that l would like all of us to see the responsibility that is placed on our shoulders and the commitment and sacrifices that would be expected of us, if we should work effectively to leave some legacy behind when we leave office”, he stressed.
Mr Aidoo said he was mindful of some of the threats that faced the region, some of which were chieftaincy disputes and land litigation.
He specifically mentioned the chieftaincy disputes at Atuabo, Wassa Fiase, Princess Town, Akitakye, Sefwi Wiawso, adding that some of those disputes had cost the region lives and property and had been a drain on public funds.
Mr Aidoo said some of the major land disputes had occurred between the Inchaban Stool and the Department of Social Welfare, the Fijai Stool and the Archbishop Porter Girls’ School, adding that there was also a dispute over the buffer zone created for the Second Battalion of Infantry.
“One other challenge that faces us as partners in development is the issue of ‘galamsey’. The practice of illegal mining has been with us for a long time”, he added.
Mr Aidoo said the areas where ‘galamsey’ had been quite pronounced included Prestea, Mpohor, Damang, Akyempim, Tarkwa and Teleku Bokazo.
He stated that in all those areas, confrontations had occurred between the ‘galamsey’ operators and the established mining companies.
“Galamsey’ is now assuming alarming proportions, with its attendant polution of where water bodies. He cited for example that ‘galamsey’ was taking place directly in the Pra, Bonsa and Tano Rivers ”.
Mr Aidoo said the Regional Security Council had already carried out an eviction exercise around the River Pra and that similar exercises would be undertaken until the problem was resolved.