Six hundred and ninety five staff members of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), representing 30% of its workforce will go on compulsory retirement in the next five years leaving only 108 of its staff, who are below 40 years.

There is therefore the need to embark on a recruitment drive and also motivate and retain professionals for the effective succession planning to ensure the continuous growth, development and existence of the Authority.

Mr Eric Oduro-Konadu, Chief Executive, GHA disclosed this at their annual management conference on Monday, under the them, ?Effective supervision and management for value for money in the trunk road sector?. Mr Oduro-Konadu, delivering his welcome address said ?the aim of GHA is to provide cost-effective road projects that meet quality and safety standards as well as deliver the expected service to Ghanaians.?

He mentioned that the conference would provide the platform for discussion and adoption of effective supervisory skills in order to manage road projects to achieve value for money for the nation.

The CEO used the opportunity to report on some of the major achievements of the GHA in the year 2005. The GHA according to the CEO supervised 23 ongoing roads and two bridge projects totaling 885.4km adding that by the end of the year 2005, ten of the road projects totaling 372.8kms were completed including two major bridge, both in the Greater Accra region.

He gave the assurance that the GHA will continue to improve upon supervisory roles and also work judiciously to mange road projects in order to achieve value for money for the country. The Minister of Roads and Transport, Richard Anane said he was of the hope that during the mid-year review of the performance of the sector, there would be a marked improvement in out-put. He mentioned that the theme was appropriate and relevant because effective supervision and monitoring should be a key and critical factor in the operations of the Authority.