Ghana Gas Abandons Duties In Jomoro

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro in the Western Region, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, is unhappy over the failure by the Ghana National Gas Company Limited to fulfil some parts of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the area, leaving certain roads in a deplorable state.

According to the MP, it is the corporate responsibility of the company to construct roads in the area, because Jomoro is part of the gas production enclave in the country and, therefore, the people must benefit from Ghana Gas.

She wondered why major road projects in the municipality, like the Samenya Barrier to Half Assini and New Town, should be captured under Government of Ghana (GoG), instead of them being allocated to Ghana Gas, where there is a fund for swift completion of the projects.

The remark by the lawmaker, who was speaking on the floor of Parliament, follows assurance by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah,that execution of abandoned and delayed road projects in the Jomoro Municipality will be considered under the 2024 budget.

The minister explained that these projects have been delayed due to unavailability of funds and other challenges.

This was after Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffeyhad asked to know when roads, such as the Samenya Barrier to Half Assini and New Town Roads, among others, in her constituency, will be completed.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Samenya Barrier to Half Assini and New Townin the Jomoro Constituency would be completed,” the MP said.

In response to the question, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, explained that “the Samenya Barrier to Half Assini Road forms part of the regional roads 019 which stretches to Mpataba to the Ivory Coast Border.

“The road spans through Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region. Already, the Samenya Barrier to Half Assini Road forms part of an ongoing project from Mpataba to Half Assini dual road measuring about 25kilometres.

“Work commenced on 25th June 2020 for completion by 24th December 2022. Physical progress is estimated to be 30.2%. The contractor is at site. However, progress of work is close due to delay in payments.”

He explained that “the block 2, Mr. Speaker, work commenced on 26th June 2020 to be completed on December 26 2022. Physical completion is 26% and the contractor is on site. Again, however, progress of work is slow due to delayed in payments. The completion of works would depend largely on availability of funds.”

The minister said, “To the Newtown roads…Mr. Speaker, these roads, measuring 80kilometres is a feeder roads and forms part of the Half Assini New town feeder roads, which is measuring 25kilometers.”

“There was lack of suitable gravel materials. The contract has been curtailed due to lack of funds. The execution would be considered under the 2024 budget,” Mr. Amoako-Attah explained.

But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP, who was not satisfied with the fact that the roads would be captured under the 2024 budget under the Government of Ghana, said the allocation should be under the Ghana Gas.

She explained that it is part of the corporate social responsibility of Ghana National Gas Company Limited to construct such roads so it would be prudent for the company to fulfil this social responsibility.

She agreed on the fact that the roads would be captured in the 2024 budget, but insisted that since Government does not have money to construct the road as early as possible Ghana Gas should do that because they have funds set aside for that.

This, she said, will speed up the construction of these roads.

Source: Anchorghana