Koforidua, May 28, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday reiterated Government's commitment to develop the road and transportation sectors.

However, he said government would insist on quality and value for money on investment in those critical areas of the economy. Vice President Mahama made the observation at a retreat organised by Ministry of Roads and Highways in Koforidua.

He said crucial in government's trunk road programme was the upgrading of the central spine road network otherwise referred to as the central corridor and the construction of the eastern and western corridors to link Southern Ghana with the North.

"An equally important programme that we are committed to implementing is the construction of bridges and culverts to provide access to farming communities and markets to enhance economic and social activities," he said.

Vice President Mahama pointed out that through the provision of sound and reliable bridges and culverts, government would be able to improve the quality of lives of its citizens "who under the present circumstances could not market their food produce nor access important farm inputs for increased agricultural production".

He expressed concern about the high spate of road accidents and urged the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing (DVLA) Authority to endeavour to arrest the situation, while the ministry worked diligently to utilize available funds committed by donor partners to the road sector.

Vice President Mahama said available information indicated that over the past three years massive commitment had been made on the financial resources of the country by the road sector.

Vice President Mahama said road projects, charged to the consolidated fund were in excess of GH¢800 million over the period 2009-2011.

"Also, the Road Fund has been over committed to the extent that maintenance activities are now jeopardized until the end of the year. Indeed on two occasions the Fund had to contract facilities from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust to meet its financial obligations to our local contractors," he said.

Vice President Mahama said the overall effects of imprudent financial management practices were that on-going projects were inadequately funded and therefore could not be completed as scheduled. Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways announced that Ghana Highway Authority had committed over 300 projects from 2009-2011 estimated at about GH¢ 833,000,819 to be paid from the consolidated fund at a time the budget for 2009 for the implementation of projects was GH¢51,955,605.

"The Department of Urban Roads has similarly committed projects over the same period to the value of GH¢263,101,600 with a budget of GH¢11,700,000 in 2009. The Department of Feeder Roads has a budget of GH¢10,363,113 for commitments of GH¢59,540,000," he said.

Mr Gidisu said the situation for maintenance of projects to be charged to the Ghana Road Fund was equally precarious adding that the maintenance budgets of road agencies for 2009 was exhausted in the first quarter of the year.

"To date, records indicate that the agencies have committed projects, some of which have been running since 2000," he added. 28 May 09