General News of Thursday, 20 February 2003

Source: GNA

Roads projects were started by NDC - Minority

Most of the work included in the government's road programme consists of either works already in progress under the NDC, projects for which funding had been secured or projects that had been designed and packaged and awaiting funding.

This is contained in a statement ready by the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin on: "Two years of NPP Administration: A litany of broken promises and shattered dreams."

Mr Bagbin listed some of the road projects as the Bole-Bamboi, Bawdie-Asankragwa roads, Sekondi and Tema Urban roads, Tetteh Quarshie interchange and Achimota-Nsawam.

The others are Sogakofe-Ho-Fume, Bole-Tinga,. Nkrumah Circle-Achimota and Macarthy Hill-Kasoa

"These have recently been re-packaged and re-sold to Ghanaians as NPP projects.

The Minority said if some of the road projects initiated by the NDC couldnot actually commence before the previous government left office, the reason is that the country relies on donors and other multilateral agencies for almost all the funds for the development of roads.

"Another reason for the delay in executing many road projects for which President Kufuor now wants to take credit is the termination of the existing contracts on these roads upon assumption of office by the NPP."

On Transport, Mr Bagbin said the programme of equipping the local private sector and foreign private investors has been aborted with the state taking over the running of high occupancy buses.

Mr Bagbin also criticised the government on the abortive Ghana Airways-Nationwide deal describing it as an embarrassing attempt to clandestinely sell off Ghana Airways in a most non-transparent manner and contrary to all the principles of zero tolerance for corruption.