Studies being carried on Vea Dam

Accra, July 14, GNA - Dr Richard Anane, Road Transport Minister, on Friday said the Department of Feeder Road (DFR) was awaiting the outcome of studies being carried out by the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA)to enable the DFR decide on the construction of a major box culvert on the Vea Dam in the Bongo constituency.

He said the Gowrie-Vea-Zokko feeder road, also in the constituency, was close to the Vea Dam and became flooded when the dam spill gates were opened.

Dr Anane was responding to a question from Mr Albert Abongo, NDC-Bongo, on plans the Ministry had for linking Vea and Gowrie since during the rainy season the two villages could not be linked by road when the spillways of the Vea Dam, were opened under the supervision of the IDA.

The Minister said the DFR proposed the construction of a major box culvert in 2004 when the road was proposed for spot improvement to solve the problem.

"The proposal was rejected by the authorities in charge of the operation of the Dam on the grounds that the major box culvert would hinder the free flow of water when the spill gates are opened," Dr Anane added.

He said the DFR was therefore awaiting some inputs from the IDA before considering the possibility of constructing the culvert. In response to a similar question, the Minister said the construction of long span bridges for the Nawuni and Daboya rivers in the Northern Region would be awarded next year under the Ghana Highway Authority bridge programme.

He said the Minsuo and Kpasenkpe bridges, which were both on the White Volta, have been programmed for award this year, adding that when these bridges were completed it would open up communities beyond the White Volta.

The Minister, who was also in the House to answer questions on some roads, said the Sokode-Juapong feeder road located in the Ho and North Tongu Districts, was being tarred in phases.

He said the first phase from Sokode-Abutia Kloe was "awarded for surfacing in March 2003 at a contract sum of 7.4 billion cedis". Dr Anane said the project was about 92 per cent completed and being funded by the Government.