Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - The Ghana Development Centre (GhDC), a pro-democracy and economic think tank, has asked Government to consider channelling energies of the youth and other unemployed towards constant roads maintenance in the country.

A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by Mr Samuel George, Communications Director of GhDC, explained that this could be undertaken by recruiting committed people to form a Roads Maintenance Taskforce (RMT).

"The RMT under the supervision of the various District Road Engineers would regularly fill potholes, replace damaged road signs and alert the Engineer on the state of roads in their jurisdiction," it added.

The statement noted that the use of available labour would not only be cheaper than waiting to award contracts to companies but would create jobs to absorb the unemployed youth, improve the road network, reduce accidents and ensure safety on the roads.

It said the effects of poor roads; especially gaping potholes were prone to road accidents and high cost of vehicle maintenance, which would be eliminated by RMT.

The statement urged government to conduct a cost benefit analysis, especially in relation to keeping a number of young people on allowance as against spending huge sums to a contractor long after potholes had developed or roads signs had been removed.