Gov’t yet to pay Contractors working on Ho-Adidome Road

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July 17, 2014

Mr. Quarshigah (R) briefing Mr. Bani (L)

Contractors working on the Ho -Adidome trunk road in the Volta region are yet to receive monies from the ministry of finance to enable them complete work on the road, three weeks after President Mahama announced the release of funds to that effect during a day’s inspection tour of the road.

This was disclosed on Sunday to the Chief of Staff Mr. Prosper Douglas Bani when paid a day’s working visit to the region to ascertain the progress of work on the road since the president’s last visit.

The resident engineer in charge of the project, Mr. Divine Quarshigah, told the chief of staff and his entourage that, though some culvert works are ongoing on the road, work is progressing at slow pace due to the delays in the release of funds to the contractors, Ussuya Ghana Ltd, PMC and Jani-CORP enable them fully mobilise back to site.

‘The contractors have not received any payment after the president came’ he said and explained further that his checks as of last Friday revealed that the payment process has left the Ghana Highway authority to the finance ministry.

The delay in the release of the monies to contractors according to the resident engineer is one the major challenges hampering the speedy completion of the 48km road, with the second challenge being heavy rains which disrupt work because of the porous nature of some portions of the area.

A box culvert under construction on the road

The road which is packaged in three lots, comprises of an 18.6km stretch from Ho to Adaklu-Hlekpe for lot one and is being executed by Ussuya Gh Ltd, a 14.4km stretch between Adaklu-Helekpe and Adaklu-Ahunda for lot two, being worked on by PMC constructions and the third lot being constructed by Jani-CORP Gh Ltd is a 15km stretch between Adaklu-Ahunda and Mafi-Kpedzeglo.

The rate of completion of the three lots according to Mr. Quarshigah, stands at 48.5 per cent for Lot one, 50.2 for Lot two and 41 per cent for Lot three.

Despite the delays, the resident engineer however assured the chief of staff and his entourage that the road will be fully completed by the end of December 2014.

Responses

The chief of staff, Mr. Prosper Douglas Bani in response, said ‘I don’t want payment to be an issue after the president’s visit’ and promised to follow up on the process to ensure that the contractors gets the monies to complete the road on schedule.

This, he said will alleviate the inconveniences caused by the closure of the Adomi bridge for major rehabilitation to residents.

Madam Fafa Adinyira, Madam. Mary Agbenyenu and Mr. Sky Ganaku, the Chief executives of Ho Municipal, Adaklu and Central Tongu districts respectively, who also accompanied the Chief of Staff on his tour with the deputy regional minister, Mr. Francis Ganyaglo, raised concerned about the quality of materials being use for the construction and urged the resident engineer to ensure the use of standard materials to ensure the longevity of the road when completed.

The chief of staff, who also inspected a 100 acre land earmarked for the construction of a regional sports complex and site for the aerodrome, reiterated the president’s commitment towards fulfilling all promises made to the region, including the eastern corridor road project.

He therefore urged residents to support government in its quest to bring development to all parts of the country including the Volta region, stating that ‘by the next couple of years, we should see tremendous development of the region.’

Other persons who accompanied the chief of staff included MP for Ho central, Mr. Benjamin Kpodo, Regional Chairman and Secretary of NDC respectively, Mr. Kwesi Aboagye and Mr. Simon Amegashie-Viglo as well as a host of other Municipal and district chief executives in the region.

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Chinese ambassador toured UHAS permanent campus

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 29, 2014

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Ambassador Buohong, (2nd right) being briefed by site officials

The Chinese ambassador to Ghana madam Sun Baohong last week inspected construction work on the permanent campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho, in the Volta region.

The project which is been executed by a Chinese Technical team, Yanjian Group, includes the construction of lecture halls, auditorium, multi-purpose science laboratory, administration block and residential facilities for both staff and students and it is expected to be ready for occupation by 2015.

Ambassador Baohong who was impressed with the progress of construction work, said the project is the ‘first large-scale’ China aid construction in the Volta region and expressed confidence in the Yanjian Group to do a good job, as it has done with previous ones including the Foreign Affairs Ministry office complex in Accra.

She urged the workers to exert work hard to ensure smooth and early completion of the project, which according to her is ‘distinct’, because of its propensity to drive the development of new communities in the area.

The Chinese ambassador was accompanied on the tour by chiefs of Asogli traditional area, led by the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV, the Volta regional minister, Madam Hellen Ntoso and her deputy Francis Ganyaglo.

A representative of Yanjian Group, the Chinese firm executing the project complained about the poor access road to the site and delays in supply of electricity and water to speed up work on the remaining sites of the project.

The Volta regional minister, Madam Helen Ntoso assured the contractors of efforts by the regional coordinating council to tackle the challenges being faced at site.

Ambassador Buohong who was on her first official visit to the Volta region since assuming office three months ago, also commissioned 25-seater ICT laboratory funded by the Chinese embassy at the Philip Akpo memorial J.H.S in Ho.

The University of Health and Allied Sciences, currently operates from temporary facilities Ho and Hohoe.

Rotary club of Ho gets new executives

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 29, 2014

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Mr. Dogbegah (R) being sworn into office

The Ho chapter of the world acclaimed charity club, Rotary International have inducted into office new executives to run the affairs of the club for next rotary year, (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015).

The ceremony which took place at the Rotary community centre in Ho last week saw Mr. Rockson Dogbegah, chairman of Berock Ventures Ltd, an indigenous construction company, taking over from Madam Vivian Agbotse as president.

The rest are Mr. Kofi Tenaso Gbedemah, a civil society activist as vice president, Dr. Cyril Fayose, President of the E.P university college, secretary, Mr. Douglas Wagba, a former regional manager of defunct Ghana Telecom, as treasure and Madam Delali Amedume as sergeant-at-hand.

New directors of the club were also announced including Mr. Frederick Duodu Takyi, as the Communication director.

Delivering his inaugural speech, the new president, Mr. Rockson Dogbegah, declared that the Rotary of Ho under his tenure would be ‘lighted up and fired up’.

He said a 5-year strategic plan will be developed to drive the club’s to the next level and called for the sacrifice and dedication of members in that direction.

He pledged to consolidate the vibrancy injected in the club by the outgoing executives and commended their efforts in the rejuvenation and doubling the club’s membership from 14 to 28 members.

He announced that capacity building programmes will be organised for both club members and the community in order to enhance the club’s image and also attract new members.

L-R,Mr. Gbedemah, Dr, Fayose & Madam Amedume

Mr. Dogbegah disclosed further the club will form strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders including NGOs to support various community based intervention activities, such as polio eradication, disease prevention, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, as well as basic education and literacy.

He also said the new executive will work hard to open a new rotary chapter in Aflao; whiles a website will also be established for the club to enhance effective information dissemination.

The out-going president Madam Vivian Agbotse expressed gratitude to club members, contributors and donors to the rotary foundation for their support during her tenure and call for similar support to the new executives.

China-Ghana ICT laboratory commissioned in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 25, 2014

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An ultra-modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory has been inaugurated at the Ho Bankoe Philip-Akpo Memorial Junior High School (JHS) in the Volta Region.

The laboratory, which can accommodate 25 people and valued at GH¢1 million, was funded by the Chinese Embassy and equipped with computers and a projector with full internet connection.

At a brief and colourful ceremony on Tuesday to officially handover the facility to the school, the new Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, said the facility showed that China would continue to invest in projects to develop Ghana and expressed the hope that the gesture would further deepen the cordial relationship between the two countries.

She said, “China’s foreign aid and cooperation projects place more emphasis on improving the livelihood of people.”

She further disclosed that the ICT laboratory is the first project in Ghana to be implemented under the ‘China-Africa People-to-people Friendly Action’, a programme adopted at the 5^th Ministerial Conference of China-Africa cooperation forum in 2012.

The Chinese ambassador also presented 10 footballs and 30 schoolbags to the school for deprived children and pledged China’s continuous commitment to the development of the Volta Region and Ghana.

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli traditional area, Togbe Afede XIV advised teachers and students to make good use of the facility to enhance their ICT skills and commended the Chinese embassy for the support.

He asked managers of the laboratory to make the facility available for use by other basic schools and interested persons in within the community.

Togbe Afede also tasked managers of the laboratory to install devices on the computers to barred children from accessing ‘inappropriate contents’.

Madam Hellen Ntoso, the Volta regional minister entreated the school authorities to develop a comprehensive maintenance plan to keep the facility in good shape.

Headmistress of the School, Madam Lydia Sedzro expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for investing in the project and assured that both teachers and students would use the facility judiciously.

Bizzare! Man Hanged himself in Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 23, 2014

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Residents of Ho ‘Kablekordzi’ near PWD, in the Volta region last Saturday woke up to a bizarre news of a young man who hanged himself in a nearby forest plantation.

The unidentified man who is believed to be in his late twenties, body was found hanging on a tree in the plantation in a decomposing state by a young man from the community.

Narrating the story, the young man said he saw a strange object hanging on a tree a few meters away from where he was in the forest.

Frightened by the sight, the young man reported the incident to some residents living in the area who later reported the issue to the Police.

According to the eye-witness, the police officers were able to locate the body in the forest, but with no indication of a self-inflicted injury on the body.

The corpse has since been deposited at the morgue while the Police continue with their investigations.

Credit: Apkablie King-Nobert/Volta Premier FM

MTN ‘Y’ello Care’ Put Smiles on Faces of Underprivileged Pupils

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Kwadwo Duodu

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June 20, 2014

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Some 140 brilliant but needy pupils of the Ave-Dakpa D/A Basic School in the Akatsi-North district of the Volta region have been presented with school bags from the nation’s leading telecommunication network, MTN-Ghana, as part of its annual ‘21 days of Y’ello care’ programme.

The programme which is an employee volunteer initiative and held in June every year provided MTN Staff at the Ho office the opportunity to mentor the pupils and interact with their teachers on Thursday.

David Woasey, Volta regional leader of team MTN, said investing in education was a top priority for the leading telecom operator, hence this year’s theme ‘Investing in Education for All.

He commended the teachers for their relentless effort in shaping the future of the children and advised the pupils be disciplined and be serious with their books, stressing that “your book is your future.. So take your studies seriously”.

The bags which were made from recycled flexi MTN souvenirs by MTN-Ghana employees, have apartments for books, mathematical sets and other learning materials pupils may need at school.

The Headteacher of the Ave-Dakpa D/A Basic School, Mr. Korto Abeilekpor, described the gesture as a ‘great feeling’ and a morale boaster for the children, because “some pupils do not even have rubber bags for their books.”

An elated primary six pupil and a beneficiary, Kporvi Janet said the bag will help her properly safeguard her books especially in this raining season. “Now the rain will no longer wet my books and they can last long”.

The 21 days of ‘y’ello care programme is an annual employee volunteer initiative and affords MTN employees in all the 22 operating countries to volunteer their services and resources to support community enhancement projects.

MTN Ghana through its foundation as part of its corporate social intervention programmes (CSI) provided various educational infrastructure and facilities to schools across the country, including a 30-seater ICT Centre and Library for the Aborlove/Nolopi Junior High School in the Keta municipality in April last year.

‘Beware of fake Certificates’-NAB cautions public

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Kwadwo Duodu

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May 25, 2014

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The National Accreditation Board is raising alarm over the proliferation of fake certificates being awarded by some unaccredited institutions operating both within and outside the country.

Mr. Richard Kojo Adjei, Deputy Executive Secretary of NAB said the situation is gaining notoriety because of the proliferation of online programmes being run by institutions, most of which are located in the United States of America and China.

‘Some people pay huge sums of money for these programmes, only to be given worthless certificates’ he stated and advise individuals to always cross check the status of institutions with the regulatory body, if they are in doubt before enrolling.

Mr. Adjei gave the caution at the 5^th graduation ceremony of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) in Ho over the weekend on the theme ‘embarking on ICT pathway in the 21^st century for advance Education’.

Mr. Adjei who described the university college as an ‘obedient’ institution and commended them for adhering to regulatory standards, further urged them to adopt internal quality assurance culture, which would permeate the structures of the institution through the effective use of ICT to ensure high standards.

Hon. Kofi Attoh, CEO of Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication, (GIFEC) in a key note address underscored the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in transforming all spheres of life including education and called for its adoption to enhance teaching and learning.

He said use of ICT in institutions of higher learning will ensure flexible and independent learning by students, while expanding the resource pool of both teachers and students for quality research and development.

He therefore called for the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning to propel national development.

Mr. S.W.K Buami & Dr. Fayose, EPUC Registrar n President

EPUC, which is under the mentorship of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), currently runs seven accredited programmes under the Schools of Business and Theology at the Ho and Peki campuses respectively.

Rev. Dr Cyril G.K. Fayose, President of EPUC, however disclosed in his report that, the university is awaiting approval from the regulatory body to introduce nine new programmes under the schools of Computer Science, Modern Language, Education, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as well as Social Sciences by the start of the 2014/15 academic year.

He said in readiness for the introduction of the new programmes, thirty (30) new full-time lecturers have been recruited to beef up the existing faculty of 16 full-time and 14 part-time lecturers with 37 administrative and support staff.

As part of efforts to meet the infrastructure needs of the increasing student population, which currently stands at 1506 from 54 in 2007, the university is putting up a 2-storey lecture hall at Ho-Kpodzi with the support of E.P church, Dela Chapel.

Professor Joseph Ampiah Ghartey, Dean of the Faculty of Education at University of Cape Coast, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, commended EPUC for its steady progress in developing the nation’s human capital and assured it of UCC’s support and guidance until it attain fully fledge university status.

He also asked the graduating students to be focused and not to lose hope as they enter the world of work which is very turbulent.

Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, asked the EPUC to consider the establishment of School of Graduate studies, which will give opportunity to their graduates to acquire high degrees.

He also entreated the graduands to exhibit the knowledge, skills and values acquired during their training in their various endeavours.

A total of 331 students graduated with eight receiving first class honours. Some outstanding graudands were also honoured with Mr. Joseph Kwesi Agbeka adjudged the overall best graduating student.

“Bring Back Our Girls” demo hit Ho

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Kwadwo Duodu

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May 25, 2014

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The global campaign, “Bring Back Our Girls” pushing for the return of over 200 kidnapped schoolgirls by the Boko Haram militants in the North-eastern Nigerian town of Chibok has hit the Volta regional capital of Ho over the weekend.

The campaign saw dozens of Christian and Moslem Women clad in mourning attires, including some school children embarking on a peaceful solidarity marched through the principal streets of Ho, from the RTC Park to the Pleasure Gardens, early Saturday morning. Among them was also the Municipal Chief Executive for Ho, Mrs. Fafa Adinyira.

They carried placards with inscriptions ‘Boko Haram, do not kill our daughters’, ‘our Nigerian sisters, we support you’, ‘away with terrorism’, ‘Africa is a united continent’, ‘release our sisters’, among others. They sang songs calling on the various stakeholders to join hands to search for the girls, who have being in abduction for over forty days.

Addressing the protesters at the Pleasure Gardens, Madam Lena Alai, Volta regional director of the department of Gender, said the Nigerian government to do everything within its power to ensure the safe release of the girls to their families, who are in constant agony and pain, adding that the financiers of Boko Haram should be fished out and sanctioned appropriately.

She further stated that militants’ insurgence in Nigeria is a threat to the rest of Africa, and called on the Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who is a woman to rally all women on the continent to condemn the atrocities of the Boko Haram, while the various heads of state takes steps to disband the group permanently.

Madam Alai also reminded the security agencies in Ghana to be on high alert at the borders especially the eastern border to prevent any spill over the monstrous group into the country, as the international community is intervenes.

Rev. Mrs. V.A Kporxa, president of the Ho Christian Women Intercessors Fellowship, called for continuous prayers for the safety of the girls and their families especially their mothers, who are going through a lot in these difficult times.

Some Moslem women also condemned Boko Haram and other terrorist groups who commit atrocities in the name of Islam, describing their activities a ‘un-Islamic.’

They said Islam is a religion of peace and disassociate it from minority terrorist groups, who are trying to hijacked religion.

Mawuli School Administration Block Deteriorating

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Kwadwo Duodu

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May 15, 2014

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Mawuli School New Administration block

The multipurpose administration block of Mawuli Senior High School in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, DAILY GUIDE has discovered, has very serious defects. The block is flawed by shoddy works inside.

The two-storey facility initially started under the Public Investment Project (PIP) over a decade ago before GETFund took over. The building has three conference rooms with a combined seating capacity of over 1,000 people, a library complex with two computer laboratories and a teachers’ common room. The ground floor is disability friendly.

Tiles, Ceiling, Falling Off

Portions of the falling ceiling n botch tiles

Despite the aesthetic design and superb architecture of the block, it has ceilings falling off on the second floor, which houses the conference halls. The tiles of one of the halls which were re-fixed recently, have started giving off. This was confirmed by the headmaster of the school, John Mawusi Kwame Osei-Nyansah, when he addressed the school’s 64th Honours Day celebration held over the weekend.

In a follow-up interview last Monday, he explained that the project was handed over to the school in 2012 pending a few finishing touches; and the administrators moved into the building last year only to realize that the tiling was poorly done. The contractors were recalled to rectify the leaking roof and re-fix the tiles of one of the conference halls, yet the problem had not been totally solved. The remaining rooms had been abandoned for over four months now, according to the headmaster.

Poor Supervision Of Projects

In his address during the Honours Day, Mr. Osei-Nyansah bemoaned the poor monitoring and supervision of government projects in schools, and cited it as a major cause of shoddy works by some contractors in the country. He therefore called on government to ensure that project consultants perform their jobs efficiently.

Master Donani David, outgoing Chief Officer (Senior Prefect), also appealed for the supply of books to stock the school’s library to enhance quality teaching and learning.

The celebration was on the theme; “Committed and selfless internal structures to rejuvenate Mawuli School for Academic excellence.”

Mr. Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, who represented his boss, Helen Ntoso, commended the stakeholders of Mawuli School for their hard work in the development of quality human resources of the nation over the years.

Guest Speaker

Professor Mawutor Avorke, an old student and Dean of School of Graduate Studies, University of Education Winneba, noted in his keynote address that the active collaboration among stakeholders with unity of purpose would guarantee the rejuvenation of Mawuli School.

Outstanding students, including Isifu Adiya, Nyamadi Mawuenyega David and Panada Emmanuel Wimbey, were awarded as the overall best students in the first, second and final year classes respectively.

Adomi Bridge Closure Exposes Bad Roads

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Kwadwo Duodu

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April 29, 2014

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A typical bad stretch on Ho-Adidome-Sogakope road

THE CLOSURE of the Adomi Bridge last month has exposed the bad nature of the alternative route from Ho to Accra, particularly the Adaklu stretch.

The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) on Monday, 10 March, 2014, closed down the Adomi Bridge to make way for rehabilitation works which would last two years. As a result, two ferries were stationed at Senchi in the Asuogyaman district to convey vehicles and passengers from the Eastern to the Volta Region via the Volta Lake.

As part of the arrangements, an alternative route was suggested for drivers bound for Ho and beyond due to the unnecessary pressure and inconvenience at the ferry sites. The route, which was purported to be in good shape, has turned out to be otherwise at some portions.

Uncompleted Portions

The alternative route allows travelers and motorists to reach Accra from Ho through Adaklu-Mafi-Adidome, Sogakofe and Tema. Although the Sogakofe-Ada-Tema portion is motorable, the portion between Ho and Adidome, which government officials say is over 90% complete, has a greater portion of it in deplorable and life-threatening state.

The stretch was supposed to have been completed about two years ago, yet government’s inability to deliver on its financial obligations has created the existing condition.

Apparently, the Adidome to Mafi area is almost complete. However, the stretch from Mafi through Adaklu to Ho is just about 60% complete, says the Volta Regional Roads and Highways Director, Ernest Duah Owusu.

It is important to note that out of the 46.8-kilometer stretch, just about 25.8 kilometers have been completed by the three contractors working on the stretch. They include Messrs Ussuya Ghana Limited, who has completed seven kilometers out of the 18.8 km stretch from Ho to Adaklu-Xelekpe.

PMC Construction Limited has done four kilometers out of a 14.8-km stretch from Adaklu-Xelekpe to Adaklu-Ahunda, while Jerricof has done 13.8 km out of 15 km which stretches from Adaklu-Ahunda to Mafi Kpedzeglo.

Scary Experience

Currently, a total of 21-km stretch from Ho through several Adaklu towns to Mafi-Kpedzeglo is left in a deplorable state, including unconstructed and uncompleted culverts as well as big potholes which collet water when it rains.

The clayey portion also becomes muddy and traps vehicles during the rainy season which has started manifesting already. Other portions also have some questionable gravel and formations that make vehicles vibrate in what some passengers have described as “a scary experience.”

More so, the portions which have been given a first coat to ease movement are yet to have additional coats. That notwithstanding, the meandering nature of the road makes night driving very dangerous, since there are no demarcations on the side and white paintings in the middle to guide drivers.

Accidents and Window of Hope

The Station Master of the Volta Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Francis Gbedze, confirmed that the nature of the road caused three accidents last month.

The Regional Highways Director, Mr. Earnest Duah who also admitted that portions of the road needed immediate rehabilitation, disclosed that about two weeks ago the Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amidu Sulemani, visited the area and gave the assurance that work would resume on the roads soon.

Credit: Fred Duodu/Dailyguide