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Former President John Mahama says roads in cocoa-growing districts are in a deplorable state due to the failure of the ruling NPP government to fund construction after an audit of awarded contracts.
According to him, $250 million was set aside from the cocoa syndicated loan annually for the cocoa roads program.
The NDC flagbearer says most of the poor roads were awarded on contract under the cocoa roads program for easy transport of cocoa beans.
These projects, he observed, stalled after the present government suspended the contracts for an audit.
Mr Mahama stressed that the government failed to fund the projects after clearing the contractors.
“When I was Vice President, all chiefs were demanding improvement in roads. So I promised that I would institute the cocoa roads policy if I became President. It was to ensure $250 million, the 2 billion dollar syndicated cocoa loan is set aside for road infrastructure.
“We ensured that the Western Region got a chunk of the project. The NPP government came and halted the project for auditing. It took more than four years for them to clear the contractors. But some of the roads that were halfway done have further deteriorated”, he fumes.
Addressing residents of Essam in Bia East District as part of his “Building Ghana Tour”, Mr. Mahama has pledged to restore the program when voted into power.
“We started the Esam Town Roads to a point, I am not sure they have continued. The Bono and Ahafo Regions have similar concerns. If I become President we will reactivate the project and get the contractors back on site”, he added.
Many cocoa areas visited by the “Building Ghana Tour” have passionately appealed for improved roads.
In the largest cocoa-growing area of the country, the Western North Region, the convoy on the tour went through some of the toughest terrains.
The journey to Esam in the Bia East District could pass for the roughest so far.
It took much experience and skill for the drivers to safely journey the entourage accompanying the former President to the area.
Visibility became a major concern at a point as clouds of dust covered the windscreens and the use of wipers even became ineffective.
Many chiefs have made the request for improvement in road networks in the area.
At Bodi, the traditional authority bemoaned how pregnant women are forced to sit on motorbikes to be carried to the hospitals for delivery.
The NDC flagbearer has assured stalled infrastructure projects in all districts of the country will be prioritized if the NDC wins power in the coming elections slated for 2024.
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By:Mariilyn Badoo
