THE government is to pay GH¢1,155,641 million on 1,066 road projects awarded on contract this year to cover the period 2010.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, made this known when he addressed the closing ceremony of a three-day retreat organised by the ministry for road engineers, technicians and other technocrats in the road sector at Koforidua.
He said the numerous projects with such a huge sum were a cause of worry to the government since the budget could not contain it.
Mr Gidisu, therefore, asked road engineers and others responsible for the award of contracts to come out with a more prudent and rationalised programme which could be implemented within the current constraints of the budget.
According to Mr Gidisu, his office had been informed that a number of officers in the regions and some at the head office of the ministry and its agencies had formed companies to which lucrative contracts were awarded and payments effected, adding that the implications of such actions were serious and contrary to the conduct of public servants.
He therefore warned public officers involved in the practice to immediately put a stop to it because the names of some of them and their companies had been made available to the national security apparatus.
Mr Gidisu also advised road engineers not to allow political leanings and trappings to influence their conduct at their workplace adding that their management and engineering decisions and implementation strategies should be devoid of any political prejudices.
The minister further told them to be judicious and transparent at all times in the course of their deliberations.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, asked the engineers to give attention to feeder roads to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs from the rural areas to the urban centres.
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