CHALLENGES associated with the payment of compensation to beneficiaries and the review of the Komfo Anokye-Sofoline-Abuakwa road project has delayed the completion of the project.
Initially scheduled to have been completed and handed over on July 31, this year, the project, which started on August 1, 2007, is only 27.4 per cent complete.
The GH¢73 million project, involves the construction of 11-kilometre six-lane dual asphaltic carriageway and the construction of the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye interchange bridges.
It also includes the construction of five underpasses at selected intersections, the relocation of schools affected by the project and the relocation of utilities such as water, telephone and electricity lines affected by the project.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the delay of the project, the Consultant to the project, Mr Badu-Prah of ABP Consult Limited, said issues on compensation and the review of both the Sofoline and Komfo Anokye Interchanges had delayed construction works for about 12 months.
Explaining, he said, “about 70 per cent of compensation issues have not been settled and that had contributed to the delay of the project”.
He said he could not give the amount involved in the compensation and the number of people affected, but pointed out that issues on compensation, especially on construction works were usually settled by the government
“We have no direct control of the money involved, so I cannot give you details ” he noted, adding “the Land Valuation Board had already identified the property involved and those who are to benefit, and I am certain that efforts are being made to settle them to pave way for work to progress smoothly”.
Explaining further, Mr Badu-Prah said, “until property owners had been duly compensated, we cannot demolish their structures, especially if it is a building, stressing that the victims need to be paid before one could touch their structures”.
He said structures such as fence walls, toilets and minor structures that hinder construction works could however, be pulled down for their owners to be settled by the contractor”.
On the review of the interchanges at both Sofoline and Komfo Anokye that had delayed construction works, Mr Badu-Prah explained that in the previous plan local roads around were used as the basis for the plan.
However, when the volume of traffic, especially those that pass near residential areas, the noise involved and emissions from vehicles were considered, the plan was reviewed to include the construction of full interchanges.
He explained that the full interchanges would contain between eight and 10 road networks, saying “the reviews of both Interchanges by the employer has also affected contract completion period since the two interchanges were put on hold for almost one year”.
Giving details of construction works completed so far, Mr Badu-Prah, said of the 11 kilometre six-lane dual carriageway, only 12.27 per cent works were completed as at November 2009.
He said 26.29 per cent of the Sofoline interchange had also been completed, but work was yet to begin at the Komfo Anokye interchange as at November 2009.
He said 21.63 per cent of construction works on the five underpasses at the major intersections had also been completed and 35.65 per cent of utilities affected by the project had also been relocated as at November 2009.
He said 40.85 per cent of schools, fence walls and other minor structures affected by the project had also been relocated and assured of the commitment of the contractor to speed up the project to reduce vehicular traffic jams on the Kumasi-Abuakwa road network.
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