Araco Construction Limited, the contractor working on the upgrading of Bolgatanga-Naaga Road lot 2 is still working on the road despite not being paid for over two years due to the importance of that stretch of the road which can easily be linked to the Upper West Region.
According to the contractor, about 40% of the total sum of the project was paid upon commencement but several payment certificates are due for payment by the government.
The Bolgatanga-Naaga Road is one of the critical roads in the Upper East Region that several governments tried working on to ease transport needs.
Before the major commencement of this road project, vehicles and other road users found it difficult to use the road due to its bad nature.
This stretch of road is in a bad state during the rainy season with vehicles stuck for days while others are compelled to use other longer routes.
In 2019, the contract was awarded to Araco Construction Limited to construct 30 kilometers of bitumen on the road to Naaga in the Kassena Nankana Municipality but the road project stalled for awhile due to delays in payment after 10 kilometers of prima seal and seal was done.
Despite the lack of payment, the contractor is on site and determined to see the end of the project and has already done another 15 kilometers of prima seal and seal on the road.
The project Engineer of Araco Construction Limited, Jirkins Kusi Jnr explained the scope of work of the project in an interview with 3news.
“Now we have been able to do the Prima seal and seal for 10 kilometres effectively. Now we are continuing as you can see. We are going to another 11 kilometres. We have our resources, our human resources. So, for now, that is basically our plan, to make sure that it goes to Naaga. You can see the effort that we are putting on at least from here to Naaga. Here now is around kilometre 14 plus. So we have the capability to do the work and nothing is going to hold us back”, the project engineer said.
He therefore appealed to the government to clear the remaining 60% of the contract sum to further enhance productivity of the project.
“If you are given a project and you decide to do it in your own way, after a few months, that problem will return you. If you do quality work, it protects yourself. Which one is more expensive? Taking time and doing it well or coming back to repair. Absolutely taking time and doing it well is the best option,” he said.
“So, like I said earlier, the challenge is that we are not being paid. So about two years now, there is no payment. But look at it, the contractor is forcing, doing his best to make sure we do something. How many contractors can be on site when they are not receiving payment? But not Araco Construction. So, our urge is that the government could help us,” he pleaded.
Some commuters expressed satisfaction on the ongoing project citing rampant road accidents and armed robbery on the stretch. They said the progress of work has so far made movement very smooth, especially for farmers and commercial transport owners.
By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
