Accra, March 1, GNA - Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Transport, on Thursday called on management of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to ensure a sustainable maintenance system to protect the investment made in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads. He noted that effective execution of road development and maintenance work would facilitate government's efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty, improve living standards in urban and rural areas and improve access to social services and economic opportunities. Mr Opare-Asamoah made the call when he opened a two-day annual management conference of GHA in Accra.

The meeting under the theme: "Ensuring Effective Maintenance and Safety Management of Trunk Roads" is to enable management to review their performance for last year, evaluate strategies to develop and maintain the trunk roads in a more effective manner and institute strategies to improve safety on the roads.

He said in addition to improving the quality and safety of the roads, the GHA must also take steps to prolong the lifespan of the roads by effective implementation and enforcement of an axle load control. "Effective maintenance on our road has become to all and GHA should exercise due diligence, increase supervision and scrupulous adherence to specifications in the execution of trunk road development and maintenance projects as well as in the implementation of road safety programmes."

Mr Opare-Asamoah reminded them to make provision for conduits for water, power and telephone service lines at appropriate points along the roads in order to minimize the cutting of roads to lay utility service lines after completion of the roads.

Mr Eric Oduro-Konadu, Chief Executive of GHA, said the Authority was preparing a 9310 roads and 17 bridges development project," adding that with the necessary assistance of government and our development partners, some of the projects like the Madina to Pantang, Sogakope to Akatsi, Nsawam to Apedwa and Techiman to Kintampo may start this year.

He said challenges facing GHA included inadequate budgetary allocation, inadequate technical staff and resources for effective supervision, delays in completing projects and inadequate supply of quarry products.

These impede their intention of ensuring maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the trunk roads network.