Dambai, Sept 4, GNA - Mr Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, said government has secured funding for the reconstruction of the eastern corridor road networks to facilitate movement of goods, services and people across the country.

He said government was familiar with the difficulties in the transportation sector and was committed to fixing them. Mr Mettle-Nunoo disclosed this when he paid a familiarisation visit to the project site of the phase III of Worawora-Dambai segment (81-151 km) of the Kpando-Worawora-Dambai road network at Asukawkaw in the Krachi East District.

The project being executed by a Korean firm, Shinsung, is solely government of Ghana financed within 42 months period, commencing in May 2007 and scheduled to be completed by May, 2011. Mr Mettle-Nunoo said to demonstrate government's resolve to deliver on its campaign promise in the road sector, on-going projects would be dutifully completed while new ones would be given on contract as soon as feasibility studies were completed on them. He was optimistic that quality works would not be compromised in any case.

Mr Seth Komeng-Ofori, Resident Engineer, requested an additional nine-month time extension in view of the works addendum and delay in the arrival of earth moving equipment from overseas. He said actual physical progress was pegged at 20 percent with the Firm anticipating the arrival of additional earthworks and paving equipment to consolidate the early completion of the project. Mr Komeng-Ofori on behalf of management pledged to accelerate works during the dry season since the terrain of project and the intense rains considerably affected their outputs.

Mr Chu-Yop Han, General Manager of Shinsung Company, said delay in the release of payment for the contractor's interim payment certificates and approval of additional works relating to the stabilization of rocks on the hill slopes, contributed to the setback. He said an additional dozer is being procured and work gangs re-organised to facilitate the meeting of its monthly progress schedules. Mr Raphael Ogyemoko, Krachi East District Chief Executive, disclosed that considerable inconvenience is caused to road users leading to the occasional total breakdown in the transportation system, and appealed to Shinsung, the construction firm, to redouble their efforts.

He pledged his administration's assistance to the contractor, especially in the acquisition of borrow pits and any other support towards the early completion of the project. 04. 09. 09