Accra, Sept. 29, GNA - Mr Magnus Opare Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Transportation, has asked the management of Road Funds in Africa to develop credible and reliable systems that would ensure continuous flow of resources to implement road maintenance programmes. He said given the importance of roads to the economies of all African countries, there was no choice than for governments to continue to provide adequate funds for the development of roads and to also support the efficient operations of Road Funds to ensure enhanced service delivery.

"In this regard, the legal, technical and financial framework of our Road Funds would have to be overhauled so as to make the funds adequately support the maintenance of our roads." Mr Asamoah was speaking at the closing session of the Fifth Africa Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) general meeting in Accra. The three-day workshop aimed at formulating mechanisms for enhancing the collection and management of Road Funds in Africa and to recommend modalities for improving road networks that would ensure increased intra-Africa trade.

Mr Asamoah said while there was goodwill and support from stakeholders for the regular and systematic review of the levies, rates and fees that flow into the Funds, this trust could only be maintained through the effective utilisation of the Funds in the maintenance of roads.

It is in this connection that the Ghana Road Fund in its quest to recommend an increase in the level of fees rates and levies, which accrue to the fund, is embarking on a nationwide sensitisation and education programme.

Mr George Aidoo, Acting Director, Ghana Road Fund, said there was the need to look for sustainable means to fund road maintenance programmes. He said the over reliance on fuel levy for 90 per cent of the Fund was not good enough and called for diversification of the sources to the Fund.

In their recommendations the participants called for review of legislation in favour of other sources of generation of funds.