Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko, Chairman of Parliament's Roads and Highways Committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, has reiterated the commitment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in fixing the nation's roads and highways. Contributing on the floor of Parliament to the ongoing debate on the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, Mr Nyarko said the Akufo-Addo Government was a government that was committed to resolving the many challenges in the road sector. 'I know that the issues are many in the roads sector, and no one Government will be all to resolve all those problems, but it is about commitment. Mr Speaker, there are several of these roads scattered around the country that the Government is currently embarking on.' He cited the Tema-Akosombo and the Tema-Aflao Roads, which had been awarded to contractors, adding that all these were roads which were abandoned by previous Governments and that these roads over the years had become deplorable or death traps. 'If you have a government who says even irrespective of the difficulties that we are going through as a country it is still committed and still investing heavily into the sector, then we must applaud the Government but not to overly criticise the Government, make all comments that are unpalatable about the Government,' he stated. He reiterated that the NPP Government was committed to resolving the challenges facing the roads sector for the people of Ghana. He said the NPP Government was a government that the good people of Ghana could trust; saying 'we have demonstrated it and that is what I want to encourage everyone to support this Budget.' This, he said, was because they were able to support the Budget, the government would be able to do more of these road projects. Mr Nyarko lauded Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, the Minister of Roads and Highways, for his commitment in ensuring that most of these deplorable roads in the country were repaid. According to the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Po licy of the Government, which was presented to Parliament on November 15, by Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, the routine maintenance activities of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, comprising grading, pothole patching, shoulder maintenance, and vegetation control had been carried out on 4,809 km of the trunk road network; 8,984km of the feeder road network; and 2,318km of the urban road network. In addition, periodic maintenance activities comprising; asphalt overlay, re-gravelling/spot improvement and resealing works were carried out on 49km, 327km and 148km of trunk, feeder and urban road networks respectively. The Minister indicated that the Government infrastructure programme would also be anchored on a strong private sector collaboration. To this end, the Government would continue to pursue the Mining Sector Roads rehabilitation projects to improve the road network in mining communities. In 2024, the Government would begin the formalisation of the agreements with the Mining companies and m ining related industries to fund and commence the rehabilitation of Roads in the Mining Enclaves. Selected communities include Takoradi Agona Nkwanta, Tarkwa dualisation and Tarkwa township, Prestea Bogoso and Bogoso township, Dunkwa Obuasi, Obuasi township, Ahwia Nkwanta, Manso, and Nkran Konongo. Source: Ghana News Agency Turkana County Department of Water Services has embarked on an assessment of boreholes and water points to protect the water supply infrastructure from the ongoing El Niño rains. The water Chief Officer David Maraka on Wednesday led the technical team to Nakukulas, Turkana East sub county for assessment of hand pump that serves 3500 residents and about 10,000 livestock units. Maraka said the exercise aims to collect data that would inform repair works. The chief officer said the assessment was also informed by concerns raised by the members of the public on the bad condition of the slab that holds the pump. The recent rains washed off part of the borehole area. He added the assessment will extend to the nearby Lokicheda and the two boreholes at Kodekode. The boreholes serve 10,000 people. The team assured the local users of uninterrupted water supply. According to Turkana County proposed El-nino contingency plan, the water infrastructure across the County is facing imminent threat of destruction from th e ongoing rains. This is the reason the government is carrying out assessment to undertake necessary repairs to guarantee uninterrupted water supply system. The County has so far completed five additional water projects at Kakiteitei, Lokori, Lomelo, Kapedo and Ngamia One Secondary school in the last financial year 2022/2023. The assessment is happening at the time the public sensitisation is also going on across the County to inform the public on the restructuring of the water management system. Source: Kenya News Agency
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