Story By: Samali Abdul Razak
THE MINISTER for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwame Governs Agbodza, has expressed disappointment in the Oti Regional Minister, Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, and District Chief Executives (DCEs) over what he described as their failure to monitor road contractors and report those performing poorly in the region.
Mr. Agbodza made the remarks on Tuesday during a tour of ongoing road projects in the Oti Region to assess the progress of work and identify challenges affecting road infrastructure.
He said poor roads in the region have for years created difficulties for commuters, slowed economic activities, and affected the movement of goods and services.
According to him, Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have a responsibility to ensure government-funded projects are executed properly.
“If you see a contractor who is not working and you don’t report, then you are not doing your job as a Minister or DCE,” Mr. Agbodza stated. The Minister explained that his comments were not intended to attack any official but to encourage greater accountability and prompt action. “We cannot sit down and allow projects to delay because no one is speaking up,” he added.
During the inspection, Mr. Agbodza visited a number of road construction sites across the region to assess the quality and pace of work. He said the visit would help the Ministry identify obstacles delaying projects and take the necessary steps to address them.
He stressed that good roads are essential for transporting farm produce, promoting trade, improving access to markets, and enhancing the livelihoods of people in the Oti Region.
The Roads Minister urged the Oti Regional Minister and MMDCEs to take greater ownership of road projects in their jurisdictions by carrying out regular inspections and reporting any challenges or non-performing contractors to the Ministry.
He also appealed to traditional authorities, assembly members and contractors to work closely together to ensure road projects are completed on schedule and meet the required standards.
“We must all work together. Roads are not for the Minister alone. They are for the people of Oti Region,” he said.
Residents who interacted with the Minister during the tour welcomed the visit and expressed hope that it would speed up work on abandoned and delayed road projects across the region.
The Oti Regional Minister and some District Chief Executives accompanied Mr. Agbodza during the inspection tour.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
