Long stretches of the project have been abandoned in recent months, with contractors citing a lack of funds for their inability to continue with the work.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5tEjRzJUjtaH7ctYOF8aDYnFuZGhLusK”]The situation has left the stretches in deplorable long hours on journeys that should otherwise have been taken in minutes.

However, the Ministry insists that they are working with the Ministry of Finance, which is currently preparing the 2018 budget, to ensure that the Eastern Corridor Road projects are earmarked for funding.

“As far as we are concerned, we are rescoping the work and looking at ensuring that by 2018, all these roads are captured in the 2018 budget, especially now when we are in the process of preparing a new budget,” a Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Anthony Karbo, told Citi News.

“Our Minister, the Minister of Finance and the relevant agencies are working around the clock to ensure that at least, more than 50% of the works on the road must begin and be factored into the 2018 budget.”

Anthony Karbo also stated that, the government will engage new road contractors to replace the current ones who have abandoned the project.

This, he believes, will enable work on the project to proceed in the new year, and alleviate some of the troubles of road users on the stretches.

“Many of the contractors have abandoned the sites because of lack of funds. We need to work out processes to ensure that those contractors disengage from the contracts and allow for new contractors to take over so that works on those projects can begin to go forward,” he said.

“Rescoping will also mean that the scope of work that they had would have to be looked at, vis a vis what they have done so far and at what point we want them to terminate for new contractors to take over.”

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Eastern Corridor roads to be captured in 2018 budget – Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

There have been several calls on the government to complete the interchange and fix other portions of the Tema Motorway which many motorists say is in a deplorable state.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pMi9A1wcczGNsWtkrF4vMLi5gV0UjEQJ”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Karbo said the Road Fund, which was specifically set up to finance road projects across the country, is cash-strapped to finance these projects.

“As we speak, the loan is kicked in and releases to the road fund have been hijacked ..Our hands are tied. We are in a very difficult situation. My Ministers have had sleepless nights and we all use the road on a daily basis” he lamented.

As part of measures to address these challenges, Mr. Karbo said government is currently seeking a strategic investor to fund various road projects.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure that beyond the limited resources available to government and Ministry to do these roads, we get a concessionaire or get a strategic investor. Indeed, many have come before the Ministry and expressed interest in working with us to ensure that at least the current tolls can be used. ”

Giving timelines for the Tema Motorway interchange road project, the Deputy Minister said: “I’m hoping that if all things work well, by the close of the year, we should be taking grounds on that.”

“The Tema Motorway is coming under construction.The first phase is done. We are looking at the Japanese and Chinese grant which are going to help us to build the three tier and two tier interchanges which will also help redistribute traffic within the Tema Industrial area,”he added.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’ve no money to fix Accra-Tema motorway now – Karbo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the previous administration left close to GH¢ 11.6 billion debt at the Ministry.

[contextly_sidebar id=”F8Zp2XD4XZbNyxaQQ0ARE6wfvHtn2Syo”]“The debt overhang in the Ministry is huge; close to GH¢ 11.6 billion in commitments, all contracts put together and that is big,” Anthony Karbo said on Eyewitness News.

He further indicated that, the Ministry only receives GH¢ 1.2 billion from the Road Fund every year.

Karbo pointed out that, due to the relatively low amount they receive annually, the Ministry is considering other sources of funding for road projects.

“The amount of money we are getting from the Road Fund is woefully inadequate to kick start the road sector the way we want to. There are lots of various arrangements we are looking at currently, BOT arrangements, PPP arrangements, and some soft concessionary loans that we can tap into so we can expand the road network because they are quite critical,” Anthony Karbo said.

According to Karbo, the debts in the sector would have to be retired before any landmark project can be efficiently undertaken

“Nothing seems to be happening also because of what we came to meet. We are not crying over spilt milk. We know there was a problem and that is why the Ghanaian people gave Nana Akufo-Addo this overwhelming mandate.”

“The major projects we intend to do are capital intensive and involves a lot of money, so if we don’t retire the debts we’ve met, they are going to be difficult. There are also contractual agreements, the more you delay in resolving the debts, you have delayed payments on interests, and all these things go to shore up the money governmentt has to retire these debts,” he added.

Anthony Karbo also suggested that, the country’s tolling arrangements be reviewed, as the rates had not been adjusted for sometime.

“We need to look generally at the tolling arrangements we have in our country. For the last nine years, we haven’t adjusted the price of tolls in the country which is a very sensitive issue. But at the same time people would want to see good roads before they pay more tolls.”

‘Road fund coffers empty’

A Deputy Minister of Roads, Kwabena Owusu Aduom, had earlier stated that the Ghana Road Fund is depleted such that it will take about 10 years to pay for already awarded contracts.

According to the Deputy Minister, the situation was worsened by the former government’s decision to award numerous road contracts in the last quarter of its administration.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mahama gov’t left GHc11.6bn debt at Roads Ministry – Karbo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the Ministry receives GH¢ 1.2 billion from the Road Fund ever year but the “debt overhang in the Ministry is huge; close to GH¢ 11.6 bn in commitments, all contracts put together and that is big.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”lxKLfWQRLFuRznQ2sZr3uJRANo5sNePY”]He stated that due to the relatively negligible amount they receive annually, the Ministry is looking at other sources of funding for the road projects.

“The amount of money we are getting from the Road Fund is woefully inadequate to kick start the road sector the way we want to. There are lots of various arrangements we are looking at currently, BOT arrangements, PPP arrangements and some soft concessionary loans that we can tap into so we can expand the road network because they are quite critical,” Anthony Karbo said on Eyewitness News on Tuesday.

He argued that the lack of road projects by the current government was as a result of the debts left behind by the Mahama administration.

According to Karbo, the debts in the sector will have to be retired before any landmark projects can be efficiently undertaken

“Nothing seems to be happening also because of what we came to meet. We are not crying over spilt milk. We know there was a problem and that is why the Ghanaian people gave Nana Akufo-Addo this overwhelming mandate.

“The major projects we intend to do are capital intensive and involve a lot of money so if we don’t retire the debts we’ve met, they are going to be difficult. There are also contractual agreements, the more you delay in resolving the debts, you have delayed payments on interests and all these things go to shore up the money Gov’t has to retire these debts,” he added.

Anthony Karbo also suggested that the country’s tolling arrangements be reviewed, as the rates had not been adjusted for close to a decade.

“We need to look generally at the tolling arrangements we have in our country. For the last nine years, we haven’t adjusted the price of tolls in the country which is a very sensitive issue. But at the same time people will want to see good roads before they pay more tolls.”

‘Road fund coffers empty’

A Deputy Minister of Roads, Kwabena Owusu Aduom had earlier stated that the Ghana Road Fund is so depleted that it will take about 10 years to pay for already awarded contracts

According to the deputy Minister, the situation was worsened by the former government’s decision to award numerous road contracts in the last quarter of its administration.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GH¢1.2bn Road Fund quota woefully inadequate – Karbo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“We would only debate this president if he [Mahama] is minded to respond to the 170 questions we had put to before this president about the state of this country’s economy,” a deputy communications director of the NPP, Anthony Karbo said on Eyewitness News.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EPvx6zqVEuwcINpgkrq3ctqboqgsBSy0″]The 170 questions were laid out by the NPP running mate, Dr, Mahamadu Bawumia during his lecture on the state of the Ghanaian economy in September which had scathing words for the governing National Democratic Congress.

President Mahama has since rubbished such claims as misinformation and has been requesting a fact based debate with Nana Akufo-Addo to settle issues on the economy among others.

But Mr. Karbo has said, “We asked this President 170 questions on this economy; on his leadership as vice President and head of the Economic Management Team and as the President of the Republic for the last four years.”

“The President blindly ignores us, refuses to answer these questions, none of his appointees even responds and yet the President expects a response from us to a challenge.”

This demand notwithstanding, Mr. Karbo believes that Ghanaians have already made up their minds at this stage and debate would do little to change that.

“We don’t believe that this debate is what will settle the issue. The Ghanaian people have made up their minds already. They have a fair assessment of all the various candidates going into this election. The track record of these people will speak to why Ghanaians will have to make this ultimate but important choice on December 7,” he said.

He also urged the government to be more preoccupied with accounting to the citizenry ahead of the polls instead of debating the NPP, adding that “the critical issues that Ghanaians must understand before making a decision on December 7 are ingrained in these 170 questions.”

Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election related stories

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Answer Bawumia’s 170 questions, then we can debate – NPP to Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Samson Abu, the incumbent MP for the area on the ticket of the NDC, left the party after his narrow defeat in the NDC primary where he lost to Bede Ziedeng by 14 votes.

In a letter signed by Upper West Regional EC  Director, Azu Bosco Anyigire, the EC explained to Samson Abu that the similarity of his colours to that of the NDC is in breach of the law.

“I humbly wish to inform you that your colours as an independent candidate are similar to that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). This is a breach of the law and I advise that you change your colours with immediate effect.”

“The Commission will apply all sanctions if you fail to comply,” the letter added.

Following Samson Abu’s defeat at the primary, his camp leveled allegations against Bede Ziedeng, accusing him of manipulating the voter’s register to his advantage.

Though Bede Ziedeng denied the accusations, attempts by the NDC hierarchy to mend the rift between the two proved futile, as Samson Abu eventually presented his nomination forms to EC to contest as an independent candidate.

This turn of events has presented the New Patriotic Party (NPP) its best chance to win the seat with its aspirant for the area, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, looking to take advantage of the the anticipated split votes between the Samson Abu and Bede Ziedeng.

Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election related stories

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lawra independent candidate asked to change his NDC colours appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ophelia Swayne came sixth in the Women’s 50m Butterfly Heat 3 with a time of 29.66 seconds. The race was won by Jamaica’s Trudiann Patrick with a time of 28.78 seconds.

Abbiw Jackson came fourth in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Heat 4 with a time of 56.87 seconds. Mozambique’s Shakil Fakir won the race in a time of 55.08 seconds.

Abeiku Jackson did not fare better either as he came third in Heat 3 of the Men’s 100m freestyle in a time of  56.47 seconds. Malaysia’s Lim Ching Hwang was the winner of the heat and his time as 51.65 seconds.

Nana Kwabena Antwi did not even start the second heat of the Men’s 100 Freestyle events for undisclosed reasons.

Jackson will compete in the first heat of the Men’s 100 Butterfly on the 27 July, 2014.

Kweku Addo will also take part in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Heat 4 on the 28th July.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games update: Ghana stumbles in swimming heats appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two were in lanes 3 and 5 and they topped the field that had seven athletes.

However, both athletes will not make it to the semi-finals because of the times they recorded in the heats.

Abeiku Jackson finished with a time of 27.21 seconds while Kweku Addo had a time of 27.80 seconds and the times place Jackson 33^rd while Addo is 39^th on the overall ranking after the 8 heats.

The top 16 athletes recorded times of between 23.17 seconds (recorded by Benjamin Proud of England) and 25.16 seconds (recorded by Miles Munro of Guernsey)

Another member of the swimming team, Ophelia Swayne, will take part in Heat 3 of the women’s 50m butterfly that will be held on the 26^th of July at the Tollcross Swimming Centre.

Abbiw Jackson and Nana Kwabena Antwi will be participating in the third heat of the men’s 50m freestyle on the 28^th of July.

Abbiw will also swim in Heat 4 of the men’s 100m freestyle on the 26^th of July.

In cycling, Ghana’s Jedidiah Amoako-Ackah failed to qualify for the next stage of the men’s sprint qualifying.

He came 26^th with a time of 12.676. The event was won by Matthew Glaetzer of Australia with a time of 9.779.

He will have another opportunity to compete for medals when he goes for the Men’s 1000m time trial and the Keirin events scheduled for the 26^th and 27^th of July respectively.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games update: Early slips for Ghana in swimming and cycling appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.