The Ministry of Roads and Highways has debunked reports that it has re-allocated monies meant for the construction of a bridge and some roads in Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.
Reacting to claims by Members of Parliament for Afram Plains North and South, Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah and Joseph Appiah Boateng respectively, who revealed that the government had proposed to use the funds for construction works on the Accra-Kumasi highway instead of Adawso-Bunso to Ekye-Amanfrom, the Ministry of Roads and Highways described the allegations by the MPs as misleading and inaccurate.
“The Ministry wishes to state that the joint statement is misleading and that the Members of Parliament could have easily sought the necessary clarification from the Ministry. The allegation by the Members of Parliament against the Ministry is biased and cannot, therefore, be accurate.”
Ministry of Roads and Highways
The Ministry indicated that government had anticipated that two components of the project, with a total cost of €350 million will be executed concurrently, but it has not been able to conclude the arrangement of financing for the project. It explained that the government’s inability to conclude the financial arrangements is due to the current debt restructuring exercise.
“It is in light of this that Government allocated about US$98 million under the US$750 million African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Loan as a contribution to the road contract component after one of the financiers declined to participate in the financial arrangement”.
Ministry of Roads and Highways
Furthermore, the Ministry of Roads and Highways highlighted that government’s inability to conclude the arrangement of the financing for the project has informed its prudent decision to apply the allocation under the Afreximbank facility to the equally important Accra-Kumasi corridor.
Re-allocation of funds to be applied to Apedwa-Ejisu section of road
The Ministry noted that the re-allocation of the funds will be applied to Apedwa-Ejisu section of the Accra-Kumasi road. It indicated that this stretch goes through major towns such as Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi, Nkawkaw and Konongo in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions.
“It is common knowledge that sections of the road within these towns are usually marked with heavy traffic congestion causing a lot of delays, accidents, pedestrian-related crashes and increased travel time.”
Ministry of Roads and Highways
Subsequently, the roads ministry justified that the decision is in the interest and welfare of Ghanaians and entreated them to cooperate with the Ministry to improve the national road network.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the good people of the Afram Plains area, including the Honourable Members for the Afram Plains, and the general public that the decision taken is in the interest of the general welfare of the people of Ghana. Government is committed to addressing their road network challenges and encourages all to cooperate with the Ministry as we strive to improve upon the national road network.”
Ministry of Roads and Highways
Following the joint statement from the Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South and Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Joseph Appiah Boateng and Betty Krosbi Mensah respectively, with claims of diversion of funds, Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South, Joseph Appiah Boateng, threatened to lead a massive demonstration against the Government for allegedly attempting to divert funds meant for the construction of Afram bridge and road projects to other road projects in Akyem.
He revealed that there are available copies of loan agreements, projects and letters of diversion which when approved is a deliberate attempt to deprive the people of Afram Plains of their share of the national cake and also worsen their living conditions as a result of the deplorable state of the roads in the area.
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