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Ministry of Finance signs MOU with contractors
Accra, Jan. 29, Ghanadot/GNA- The
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in collaboration
with the Ghana Cocoa Board on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with 31 contractors for the take off of
the first phase of the Cocoa Roads Implementation Project (CRIP).
The first phase of the project, which will be implemented in
the six cocoa growing regions will cover a total of 205
kilometres of roads at a cost 25.2 million Ghana Cedis.
The project, the first to be implemented in Ghana will have
the Department of Feeder Roads as the implementing agency.
Mr Kwadwo Baa-Wiredu, the sector Minister, signing on behalf
of government said the exercise followed an announcement
President John Agyekum Kufuor made recently at the People's
Assembly held in Sekondi in connection with the project.
He said the Project when completed would facilitate cocoa
evacuation in the cocoa producing areas as well as the
movement of people and food crops.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said government would put in place policies
and measures that will enrich the lives of the farmer.
He outlined the achievements of the government in the cocoa
industry and said government had ensued remunerative
producer prices and payment of bonuses, which had risen six
times since 2001, and had engaged in effective disease and
pest control exercises which had improved the agronomic
practices on cocoa farms.
Mr Baah-Wiredu announced the decision taken by COCOBOD to
"increase the bad road factor from 20 per cent to 30 per
cent and the return factor from 20 per cent to 25 per cent
for haulers of cocoa with the aim of improving internal
marketing of cocoa.
He called on investors to explore the market potential of
the beneficiary community in terms of the opening up of
these communities to the marketing centers and the major
cities of the country through the CRIP and other related
projects.
He urged contractors involved in the Project to deliver
quality work and on time since the Ministry would be
monitoring their work and poor out put would not be
compromised.
Mr Issac Osei Chief Director of Ghana Cocoa Board, said the
COCOBOD was the major employer in the six cocoa growing
areas namely Western, Volta, Central, Eastern, Brong-Ahafo
and Ashanti regions.
He said it was the main pillar of the country's GDP and
called on the contractors to fulfil their part of the
contract by executing quality work.
Mr Bayon Tango Minister of State at the Transportation
Ministry, said the advertisement for phase two of the
programme covering another 200km of roads was almost
complete and would soon be published for bidders.
He said funds for the project was secured and to avoid the
delay in payment he urged contractors to execute their
contract on time.
Mr J. Twumasi-Mensah, president of Road Contractors, Ghana,
on behalf of the group pledged to complete the contract on
time.
GNA
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