Koforidua, June 16, GNA - Road Engineers in-charge of districts in the Eastern Region on Tuesday started a training programme in Koforidua to master the use of the Routine and Recurrent Road Maintenance Manual for effective implementation.

The technical manual has been revised for feeder road maintenance works under the Department of Feeder Roads and has also been adapted to assist the District Works Departments of the District Assemblies to carry out their responsibilities. Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, urged the participants to take the training seriously so as to update their knowledge and skills.

He challenged them to ensure that whatever they learnt at the workshop was translated to increase their performance levels at their various districts, adding, "it is very crucial and of paramount importance for you as District Engineers to work diligently to ensure value for money for our projects".

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged them to ensure that district assembly projects were well supervised and executed up to specification and acceptable standards. He warned that Government would not entertain delays in the execution of projects and shoddy works and said any contractor found culpable would have his contract terminated. The Regional Minister acknowledged the invaluable contributions of DANIDA in supporting Ghana's decentralization agenda, especially its technical assistance to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for over a decade now. Ms Mabel Adjaottor, Director of Quality Assurance and Technical Services Directorate of the Local Government Service Secretariat, said the training was of utmost importance for the district assemblies and for that matter the area/district engineers.

She described the manual as their "Bible," saying, "It contains all the stages or cycle of maintenance activities - Planning, Budgeting, the use of MPBS wizard, Procurement, Supervision, Duties and Responsibilities at all levels."

The workshop is funded by DANIDA under a component called, the Transport Sector Programme Support Two (TSPS).