Government "revives" plans for "dead cocoa route"

Company News on Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2019-01-22

Work should resume on the cocoa road project, which has been suspended for more than a year.

The project that began under the former John Mahama government was suspended in July 2017 by COCOBOD under the government of the Akufo-Addo nuclear power plant, due to discrepancies and financial irregularities in the award of certain contracts.

In particular, the Mahama administration has been accused of awarding more than 230 different road contracts amounting to 3.5 billion GHC under the project, an action that has had a disastrous effect on COCOBOD's financial burden. .

Other audits also revealed "outrageous" cost elements in most contracts, forcing COCOBOD to instruct the Ghana Highway Authority to suspend work to review the rationalization of each project. .

After nearly two years of hardship, the Ministry of Roads and Highways announced the resumption of work on abandoned roads as of this year.

Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Minister of Roads and Roads, addressed the media at its inaugural "Meet the Press" event for the year 2019. He indicated that all road projects within the framework of Cocoa road projects are taken over by the Ministry with COCOBOD funding through the Ministry of Finance.

"COCOBOD's cocoa-financed road projects have made a significant contribution to the road sector since it was introduced in 2004 under the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, but unfortunately in recent years there has also been another turbulent history led to its suspension by COCOBOD. "

"I am, however, pleased to report that arrangements are being made for the Ministry of Roads and Highways to take over all outstanding road projects in the cocoa sector that were blocked and for COCOBOD to provide the payments by the Ministry of Roads and Highways. intermediary of the Ministry of Finance, "said the minister.

Sinohydro deal

Acting on the progress made by the ministry regarding the $ 646 million project support agreement signed with Sinohydro Corporation, Mr. Amoako-Atta said that steps are currently being taken for the first phase of the project ends almost immediately, follow closely in June of this year.

This, he says, will allow for close monitoring and stability of projects.

"The Government of Ghana has signed a project support framework agreement with Synohydro Coporation Ltd. to support priority infrastructure projects in Ghana. This agreement represents the largest investment in the road sector since time immemorial, "he said.

He added, "This is due to the fact that the Republic of Ghana is fortunate to have a progressive, visionary and innovative leader and government, and my ministry is making every effort to ensure that all projects under this facility are correctly executed quickly. but without compromising quality for the benefit of the good people of our country. Once completed, the projects will improve ultra-urban regional and national traffic flows and trade, strengthen economic and regional integration and reduce the cost of doing business in our country. "

"The first trench of this amount, totaling 646 million USD, will finance this project. The first trench is released and construction in the first phase will begin in the first quarter. The second quarter, scheduled to begin in June of this year to ensure the continuity of projects under this agreement, so that all projects proceed simultaneously, began with Sinohydro Corporation officials working with officials of my ministry, are currently traveling to Ghana all the roads that will enter the second phase, "he continued.

The first edition of the event "Meet the Press" was published Tuesday, January 22 at the Ministry of Information. This event is held each year to allow officials and agencies from different ministries to report on progress made over the past year. This also allows journalists to have the opportunity to ask relevant questions about the ministries and their work.