On a recent visit to the Upper West region, the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus gave a big thumbs up to contractors delivering on promises under President John Dramani Mahama's flagship infrastructure agenda. The caucus inspected roads under the "Big Push" on Thursday, August 20.
Praise for Contractors Who Are Delivering
The caucus led by Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, the caucus leader, expressed satisfaction with the work being done by P&W Ghanem Limited on the Mwankuri-Han and the Han-Nandawwaala-Kuntulo-Jeffisi-Tumu portions. The project has been awarded to five contractors. Dr. Sandaare emphasized the need for the roads to be completed on time and of good quality.
Lawra MP Bede A. Ziedeng commended P&W Ghanem Limited for their "neat" and "fast" work. "Those who cannot do the work, let's take the contract from them and give to people who can do it," he said. Nadowli-Kaleo MP Anthony Sumah Mwinkaara praised the contractor for their progress, stating that at the rate they are going, they are the only ones who will finish before time.
Concerns Raised About Delays and Maintenance
However, not all contractors are meeting the expectations of the caucus. The caucus also visited the site of Greenhouse limited at the Kuntulo stretch heading to Jeffisi to see the progress of work. Lawra MP Bede Ziedeng commented on P&W Ghanem's work on the Han-Domini-Lawra Road, where sub-base works are complete. He emphasized the need for maintenance of old roads, stating that some sections are in a bad state.
Nadowli-Kaleo MP Anthony Sumah raised concerns about deteriorating sections of the road. "From Magazine down to Jang, it is so bad. This is a place that was tarred initially, but it has gone very bad," he said. He warned that if the contractor does not come on site, they will meet with the Minister and suggest decisive action.
Contractors' Plans and Timelines
Caesar Ghanem, the CEO of P&W Ghanem, briefed the MPs on their plans and timelines. He explained that the first project runs from Manco Reef and is 22 kilometers long. So far, they have completed the prime seal, and they are currently doing the first seal. He stated that the second project covers 25 kilometers, and they have completed the fill formation. They are preparing for the sub-base, and they hope to start that layer next week.
On timelines, Caesar Ghanem was confident. "The project is expected to be completed before the deadline, which is January or February 2028," he said. Each project has a duration of two years. He added that the overlay of asphalt promised by the Roads Minister will come under a separate contract.
Impact on Road Users
For road users, the impact is already real. Mr. Hudu Nafa says his trip from Wa to Tumuh has been transformed. "I used to take four to five hours. But now, I've only used one hour and twenty minutes. The road is very nice," he said. Nurudin Saani of the NHIA also praised the new road, stating that it has really come to reality.
The Upper West Parliamentary Caucus has promised to report their observations to the Minister of Roads. The caucus has expressed satisfaction with the work being done by P&W Ghanem Limited, but they have also raised concerns about delays and maintenance of old roads. As the project continues, road users are eagerly waiting to see the completion of the project and the benefits it will bring to the region.
Source: Joy Online
