Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - The re-construction of the Bamboi-Tinga road has been programmed for implementation under the 2006-2010 Transport Sector Development programme.

However, to make the road motorable, it is currently under routine maintenance by Messrs Awudsco Limited from May 2005 to December 2006. Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Road Transport who announced this in Parliament on Friday said, "The contractor completed the first rehabilitation in June 2005. The on-going rehabilitation for 2005 is about 95 per cent complete."

The Deputy Minister was answering a question from Mr John Dramani Mahama, NDC-Bole/Bamboi on the status of the Bamboi-Tinga road and its reconstruction.

Mr Opare-Asamoah said the 53-kilometre road in the northern region was a gravel road in fair condition and in 2001 feasibility and detailed engineering studies for the reconstruction of the road was completed. He said the road programmed for reconstruction was in two phases and funds were secured from the World Bank for work on the first phase, which is 72 per cent complete.

The Deputy Minister said work on the second phase was yet to commence but in view of the importance attached to the Bamboi-Bole-Wa-Hamile corridor, Government had discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank for financial support towards the reconstruction of phase two.

"The road has been considered for reconstruction as part of a sub-regional road development programme involving Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to be funded by AfDB and the World Bank." "The completion of the development of this corridor is expected to shorten the journey of transit vehicles to Burkina Faso and Mali," the Deputy Minister added.

He said details of the project were to be finalised at a conference of Road Ministers to be held in December, in Burkina Faso. Consequently, Mr Opare-Asamoah said the reconstruction of the Bamboi-Tinga road had been programmed under the 2006-2010 Transport Sector Development programme.

Some members of the Minority were however, not satisfied with present state of the road and the delay on its rehabilitation. They said it took long hours to travel on the road and questioned if the Deputy Minister had travelled on the road. The Deputy Minister promised to travel on the road to acquaint himself with its true state.