![\"osafo-maafo-2\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/osafo-maafo-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSenior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, has bemoaned what he calls corrupt practices within the country’s road sector.<\/p>\n
According to him, some road contractors intentionally inflate the cost of roads, adding that, such practices have had adverse effect on the country\u2019s funding sources.<\/p>\n
Speaking at an event to officially commence the upgrade of the Accra-Tema Motorway on Monday, Osafo- Maafo said the cost of road construction in Ghana must conform to international standards.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf you go to the score card of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, they describe the sources of our poor performance in the road sector. They talk about lack of adequate funds, technical know-how, but they also talk about corruption. It\u2019s something we should also pay attention to. We must have value for money in the road sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
He argued that \u201cthe cost of construction is basically international depending on the material you use and therefore we cannot have a situation where the cost of construction in Ghana is on a different planet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of construction of roads should conform to international standards. We have a situation where the cost per kilometre of our road network is higher than international standards even when you work out the material aspect. This calls for a very close look at the matter. It cannot be and it should not be and therefore I\u2019m appealing to our financial partners who will join us in the PPP that we are interested in having value for money,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201890% of Mahama road contracts awarded by restricted tender<\/strong><\/p>\n This comes on the back of government\u2019s revelation that over ninety percent<\/strong><\/a><\/span> of road projects awarded by the Mahama administration went through the process of restricted tendering.<\/p>\n The Deputy Minister for Roads, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, told Citi News<\/strong> that over 540 road projects were opened to just a selected number of contractors for bidding.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we realized was that, more than 90% of road projects were restricted tendering. Restricted tendering is more of sole sourcing or few contractors being selected to bid for a project,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mahama gov\u2019t left GHc11.6bn debt at Roads Ministry<\/strong><\/p>\n Another Deputy Roads Minister, Anthony Karbo, had also complained that the previous administration left close to GH\u00a2 11.6 billion debt at the Ministry.<\/p>\n \u201cThe debt overhang in the Ministry is huge; close to GH\u00a2 11.6 billion in commitments, all contracts put together and that is big,\u201d Anthony Karbo said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin A. Allotey & Philip N. Lartey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana![\"osafo-maafo-3\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/osafo-maafo-3.jpg\")
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