Ho, July 2, GNA - About 40 billion cedis would be spent on improving the road network in the Ho Municipality between now (2005) and 2007. Dr Richard Anane, Minister for Roads and Transport announced this at the inauguration of the Ho Municipal Unit of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) in Ho. He said by five years time the Ho Municipality would have witnessed a major face-lift befitting its new status.

"The local construction industry would have to gear itself up to the challenges that these works would be committed to the projects. He called for co-operation from the chiefs and people of the municipality towards those who would be working on the projects especially since "not many contractors want to come here". Regarding road projects in the Volta Region, Dr Anane said government "would definitely revive the rehabilitation of the strategic Sogakope-Adidome-Ho-Fume road ... after the determination of the case which the contractor has taken to court.

"The second phase of the Kpando-Worawora and the Jasikan-Brewniase roads have substantially been completed and would soon be taken over by the government" while "the Sogakope-Akatsi, Akatsi-Aflao and the Akatsi-Dzodze-Noepe road projects will be put on stream very soon", he said.

Mr Alex Twumasi-Boakye, Director of Urban Roads outlined the roles, functions and sources of funding for the Department and assured of efficient service and hoped that the Department would enjoy the co-operation of the people in the municipality. He explained that every project would be preceded by commencement durbars to allow the public to know contractors to be engaged on the jobs and to express their views on the jobs and the contractors.

Mr. Twumasi-Boakye said after the jobs have been completed, completion durbars would be organised to give the public the opportunity to comment on the quality of work done. He appealed to the public not to confront contractors over perceived shoddy work but to make their complaints known to the officials of the Department.