The Minister of Works and Public Assets Peter Bayuku Konteh, has revealed that government is spending Le.319 billion Leones on the re-gravelling of 1,740 major and minor trunk roads countrywide, to facilitate goods and services, movement of people, and create temporary jobs for locals in those communities.
The Minister was speaking during a nationwide monitoring tour by his ministry, and other stakeholders from the Ministry of Finance, Parliamentarians, Civil Society, the media, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), and other line ministries, to assess the work done so far, the quality and value for money as well as handing over the bulk supervision of the roads to local authorities.
Minister Peter Bayuku Konteh said, “Government has disbursed 30 percent of the total contract amounts to 40 local contactors that bidded for the re-graveling of the 1,740 trunk roads project. “The process is part of government and my ministry’s effective monitoring procedures implemented to ensure government monies are not collected and spent recklessly by contractors.”
Konteh said since the 40 contractors signed their contract with government, they have received 30 percent payments, stressing the issue of blame game and complaints will never be accepted because, according to him, they are here to deliver to the people based on their manifesto commitments. He said defaulting contractors will be held responsible and accountable.
The Member of Parliament for Constituency 071 Honourable Saidu Babah Kamara, who doubled as member of the oversight committee of Works, expressed concerns over the slow pace of bush clearing work on the Mile 91-Robol road taking into consideration the fact that the rains will soon start coming. He said from observations, work on the 52-kilometre road is slow and he is concerned if they would meet their timeline for clearing the bushes to widen the road.
Honourable Kamara reminded all that President Bio promised the people of Tonkolili district to deliver the Mile 91 – Robol road by connecting them with other parts of the country with lesser time, and cost but noted, the ongoing re-gravelling project is different from tarred, and also, the project design did not capture any bridge.
MK/29/03/2021
