Shia, (V/R), Nov 27, GNA - Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, has cut the sod for work to begin on the 30-kilometres Ho-Nyive-Shia-Honuta road at the cost of the GHC22.1 million.

"The jinx on this road would be broken this time," he assured the chiefs and people in the area at the ground breaking ceremony on Friday. The reconstruction project is expected to be completed in 18 months. For more than 30 years re-construction works on the road, which links Ghana to Togo from Ho, have had to be abandoned to the chagrin of communities along the route.

Mr Gidisu said the contractor on the project had been well chosen for his competence and ability to perform. He said the road was of economic importance to the country as it generated significant revenue for at the Nyive border post, after the Aflao border. Cocoa and coffee were the main wealth producing activities in the area, Mr Gidisu said.

They also produce staples such as maize, cassava, yam plantain and several others.

Mr Gidisu assured that the Ministry of Roads and Highways and its agencies would ensure that all major road programmes outlined in the National Democratic Congress's manifesto and the Ministry's medium term development programme for the region were implemented. He said the best way the government could be supported to redeem its promises were the people's offer of patience and trust. Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, said the government had fulfilled about 80 per cent of its promises to the people of the region and promised that the region would witness a major transformation in the next two years.

Mr Amenowode appealed to the communities along the route to avoid constructing speed rumps on the road but seek the help of the Ghana Highways should rumps became necessary.

He also urged the communities to co-operate with the contractor and protect his equipment and materials to help him execute quality work and meet the deadline set for him. Togbe Dadzawa III Fiaga of Shia expressed the hope that the nightmare of disappointments would end as far as the reconstruction of the road was concerned.

He said the successful completion of the project would be a major landmark achievement for the government and the ruling party. Togbe Dadzawa said he was optimistic that just as electricity was extended to the communities by the previous NDC government the government would end the string of disappointments suffered by the communities concerning the road.