Since 2019, the government has awarded about 286 number of cocoa roads with a total length of 4,465.89km to the tune of GH¢13.6billion made up of 258 feeder roads and 28 trunk/highways roads, for construction.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto revealed this on the floor of Parliament when MP for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza wanted to know “how many cocoa road contracts were awarded since 2017, which method of procurement was used in selecting the contractors, and how the Ministry intends to pay for these projects.
According to him the entire review process and project preparation was done upon several engagements and consideration with major stakeholders by stressing the point that, “it is important to note that the contracts have been programmed to have a duration spanning between 12 to 48 months”.
On the issue of procurement methods, The Minister said, with the assistance and guidance of the Department of Feeder Roads and Ghana Highway Authority of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the ministry used National Competitive Tendering (NCT), Restricted Tendering (RT), and Single Source (SS) Procurement. He explained that the National Competitive Tendering was highly competitive, which attracted over 800 contractors in the tendering process.
“In all 40 contracts with a total length of 328km were procured under NCT at a cost of GH¢496,040,098.91. This is the first of its kind in the history of the Cocoa Roads Programme in COCOBOD”, he mentioned..
There are 69 road projects covering a total length of 651.0km that were procured under Restricted Tendering procedures at a cost of GH¢1,577,790,213.89.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto emphasized that, “a total of 177 number of road projects were procured under Single Source Tendering procedures; 150 number of projects came under Department of Feeder Roads (2,218km) at a cost of GH¢4,286,831,982.61 and 27 number of projects under Ghana Highway Authority [1270km] at a cost of GH¢7,310,599,878.42).
On the issue of payment plans, he said, “COCOBOD has programmed to finance the cocoa road projects through a four (4) year COCOBOD budget cycle relative to the life span of the contracts.
The life span of the 40 number of NCT, 68 number of Restricted Tendering and 150 number of projects (predominantly Feeder Roads) range from 12 to 24months, and their payment falls within the 4-year budget cycle. Nkawkaw-New Abirem road is funded through a joint venture arrangement between COCOBOD and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited.
He said payment arrangement for Highways/Trunk roads, spanning a period of 24-48months averagely was negotiated with the contractors, based on proof of working capital and the ability of the contractors to mobilize and commence works.
Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah
