The delay in valuing the cost of properties along the Accra-Odaw drainage is affecting construction work on the third phase of the Accra drainage improvement project.

The Accra-Odaw drainage stretches from the Apenkwa overhead (motorway crossing) through Abelenkpe railway bridge, Alajo, Caprice, Avenor through the Kwame Nkrumah circle to Korle Lagoon.

Although work on the project, which started in February 2004 is scheduled to be completed in April 2006, the project may go beyond the expected completion date.

Mr Godfred Ewool, project co-ordinator of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, disclosed this to the paper in an interview after Mr Charles Bintim, minister of local government and rural development, and Mr Stanley Adjiri-Blankson, Accra metropolitan chief executive had toured the project site.

Mr Ewool said the Land Valuation Board had been tasked to value the cost of 88 houses that stand in the way of the project for compensation to be paid to the owners.

In the event of the project extending beyond the April 2006 period, Government would lose over ?128 million daily.

Speaking to the paper after inspecting the project sites, Mr Charles Bintim, minister for local government and rural development, said he would summon a meeting of the officials of the Land Valuation Board on Friday to ensure that valuation on the houses are done for the project to be completed on time.

Earlier at a press conference, Mr Charles Bintim said he had chosen to start with the sanitation of Accra because environmental sanitation is a key to the promotion of tourism in every nation.

He said Accra has ceased to be a centre of opportunity because land is inadequate, basic services are lacking and slums are widespread