Tarkwa (W/R), July 10, GNA - Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, has stated that the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would still insist on contractors pre-financing projects awarded them.

This would go a long way to ensure that the Tax Payer's money did not go down the drain.

Madam Horner-Sam explained that, previously many contractors, after receiving payments abandoned jobs awarded them thereby causing huge financial loss to the state.

She was speaking after inspecting a 732.5 million cedis two-storey Police barracks at Tarkwa as part of her two-day tour of the Wassa West district, on Friday.

Mr. Emmanuel Kwasi Ayensu, District Chief Executive, told the Deputy Regional Minister that the project, which began in 2002 was far behind schedule even though the contractor had been paid about 200 million cedis being the value of the percentage of work done. Madam Horner-Sam stressed that jobs, which were unduly delayed, would be re-awarded, adding that, only competent contractors who have the requisite capacity and resources would be awarded contracts. She assured contractors of prompt payment after the execution of projects.

Investigations by the Ghana News Agency revealed that some Police personnel at Tarkwa including women had been paired due to the acute accommodation problem facing the service. "Some of us have no privacy at all because we have been paired in single rooms for a long time now due to acute accommodation problems," some personnel complained.

They also complained that they were over stretched at times due to the inadequate number of personnel compared with the volume of work to protect lives and property in view of the rising incidents of conflicts and criminal activities in the district.