Ho, April 16, GNA - Mr. Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister on Thursday warned road contractors in the region against lobbying and presenting him with gifts for contracts. He said "No gifts will influence me for jobs and none of you should think of lobbying for projects."

Mr Amonowode who was addressing the Association of Road Contractors (ASROC), and Progressive Road Contractors Association (PROCA), at separate meetings urged the contractors to present realistic valuations of jobs they wish to undertake.

He cautioned the contractors against inflating cost of projects with spurious payments made to public officers. "I want to make a mark of good work and not good friends and so there would not be any looking at faces for contracts," the Minister emphasized.

Contracts, he said would be awarded on merit and advised members of the two associations to merge to enable them get bigger contracts. Mr. Amenowode expressed worry about the number of uncompleted projects in the region and said such projects would be reviewed and those found to be long-overdue would be repackaged and rewarded. He said the National Democratic Congress government would like to complete end all projects it started and would not entertain any delays on projects.

Mr Amenowode acknowledged the importance of road contractors to the implementation of government policies and urged members of the two groups to be guided by healthy competition. He said the Regional Coordinating Council was ready to work with the associations for the accelerated development of the region. Mr Dan Agroh and Mr Castro Dela Ahorsu, Regional Secretary and Regional Chairman of ASROC and PROCA respectively, expressed gratitude to the Minister for his advice and looked forward to cordial relationship between the Coordinating Council and the associations.