Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza has cut the workload of two contractors on the Wenchi–Bole road project by 25 kilometres each, citing their slow pace of work.
China International Water and Electric Corporation and Poly Changda Engineering Company were each contracted to build separate 50-kilometre sections of the Western Corridor road. But after assessing progress on the project, Agbodza said construction was falling short of government’s expectations, raising doubts about whether the two firms could finish their sections on time.
As a result, each contractor’s scope has been reduced from 50 kilometres to 25 kilometres, with the remaining stretches to be handed to two new contractors.
Speaking during a site inspection in the Savannah Region on Wednesday, September 2, Agbodza said the move was meant to inject urgency into the project and speed up construction. He said the two existing contractors would be closely monitored over the next two months, and warned that their remaining sections could also be withdrawn if they fail to meet agreed targets.
“If they can’t, we take the rest away from them. This is very disappointing. This is completely disappointing,” he said.
He added that government would not let the project stall when other capable contractors were available to take over.
“It is very obvious China International Water and Poly Changda do not have what it takes. I’ve driven the length of this with you. The speed and mobilisation I see do not match the expectation,” he said.
Two new contractors, Agbodza said, would be brought in immediately to take over the sections removed from the existing firms.
Follow the story
