PROBLEMS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN REGION (PAGE 20, DEC 8)

THE Western Region has five problems militating against its socio-economic transformation.
These are the poor road network, chieftaincy disputes, land litigation, illegal gold mining and currently, the unprecedented sale of lands around the catchment area of the oil field.
Past governments tried their best to solve these problems, while the present government is also doing what it can to confront these pressing issues.
But out of these problems, the most worrying situation is the poor road network in the region, even though attempts have been made to improve the situation.
This reporter has had the opportunity to criss-cross the region and can say that the road network situation in the Western Region, particularly in the rural areas, is not the best.
The irony of the situation is that most contractors who are awarded road contracts in the region abandon them after inspecting the roads, while others start and abandon them midway, while others do shoddy work on them.
It is said that the region’s difficult terrain as well as rainfall pattern are contributory factors to this problem.
Therefore, it has been suggested that a special package or preferential treatment should be given to road construction in the Western Region to attract road contractors to the region, otherwise the region would continue to suffer as far as road construction is concerned.
The Western Region has a total feeder road network of approximately 5,500 kilometres, out of which 3,149 kilometres are engineered, with 861.6 kilometres partially engineered and 1,458.1 kilometres un-engineered.
In 2007, 38.27 per cent of the region’s roads was described as good, and this improved to 39.49 per cent in 2008.
The percentage of a fair road network in 2007 was 14.89 per cent and was increased to 22.21 per cent in 2008, while the poor road network in 2007 was 46.82 per cent which was reduced to 38.39 per cent in 2008.
This year, routine maintenance will be done on 1,756 kilometres of road, while there will be spot improvement on 51.21 kilometres.
A total of 24.50 kilometres of roads in the region will be rehabilitated this year, while 37.70 kilometres will be re-surfaced and 16 bridges constructed.
There are also plans to rehabilitate some of the cocoa roads in the region this year.
In all, a total of 260.6 kilometres of the cocoa roads have been planned for surfacing.
In November last year, a total of 430.2 kilometres were awarded for reshaping at a total cost of GH¢ 848,451.62.
On the state of the highways in the region, some major road projects are ongoing, which include the reconstruction of the 56-kilometre Sefwi Bekwai-Ashiem-Asankrangwa Road.
The road being constructed by Messrs Midwest Contract Works, involves a contract sum of GH¢ 45.3 million and is 30 per cent complete.
The road will have double seal bituminous surface, while major bridges and pipe culverts would be constructed to improve safety; that is expected to be completed next year.
The 53-kilometre Asankrangwa-Enchi road is also being reconstructed at an initial cost of GH¢ 24 million and it is expected that the cost would rise to GH¢ 72 million as a result of variations.
It will also have a double seal bituminous surface, while major bridges, box culverts and pipe culverts will be constructed with dangerous and sharp curves being eliminated by massive cut and fill.
About 35 per cent of the work on the road has been completed and the whole project is expected to be completed between 2011 and 2012.
There are other major road rehabilitation projects slated for next year, which include the reconstruction of the 95-kilometre Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri Road.
Tenders for the road project were expected to be opened between November and December this year, and estimated to cost GH¢ 76 million.
The road is to have asphalt, while narrow and weak bridges will be reconstructed.
The accident spot at “Cobbold Hill” will be greatly improved, while all major intersections will be redesigned to promote safety.
The project is expected to commence between March and April 2010 and completed between March and April 2013.
It is expected that after the reconstruction of the roads, transportation of goods and services between the northern zone and the south would be greatly facilitated, while immeasurable socio-economic benefits would be derived.
The reconstruction of the 110-kilometre Agona Junction-Elubo Road is another major project that needs attention in the region.
The project which is expected to begin in June, next year and completed in June 2012, is to be funded with a loan facility from the World Bank.
In respect of the District Capital Roads Improvement Project, a total of 40 kilometres of roads are being executed in the Western Region at the cost of GHҐ 991,722.00, while approval has already been given for the surfacing of the Sefwi Wiawso and Asankrangwa town roads.
Addressing the Western Regional House of Chiefs recently, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, solicited the cooperation of the chiefs in solving the problems of the region to ensure the rapid development of the region.
He cited the chieftaincy disputes, land litigation, illegal mining, poor road network and the unprecedented sale of lands as some of the problems.
Mr Aidoo explained that the Western Regional Coordinating Council was to facilitate the overall development of the region by effectively coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the ministries, departments, agencies as well as the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and non-governmental organisations in order to improve the quality of life of the people.
As such, he said, the council had some administrative and development planning functions to perform.
“With this important and challenging role that the Regional Coordinating Council has to play in the development of the region, it goes without saying that it can only do that in collaboration with other stakeholders and the regional house of chiefs is one of such important collaborators”, he emphasised.
Therefore, the expectation is that the chiefs would collaborate effectively with the Regional Coordinating Council to solve the numerous problems, as a prerequisite for a meaningful rapid socio-economic as well as road infrastructure development of the Western Region.
People in the region deserve a better road network to commensurate their contribution to the national kitty.