IF YOU DO SHODDY WORK AND IT FAILS WITHOUT EXPLANATION, WE’LL CASH YOUR BOND OR INSURANCE TO FIX IT”- Roads Minister Warns Contractors
From now onwards, stakeholders in the road construction value chain, including contractors, consultants and staff of agencies under the Ministry of Roads and Highways, who renege on their responsibilities leading to shoddy works would be held responsible, the sector Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned.
“We are no longer going to tolerate any shoddy work under any circumstances,” Mr Agbodza, MP, Adaklu, told journalists at the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency in Accra yesterday.
He was emphatic that henceforth, contractors who win bids to execute any works under his outfit must show “competence and commitment” to do the work and do it well.
Upon assuming office early this year, Kwame Agbodza said his team has observed a worrying trend which makes holding duty bearers responsible a difficult job.
“For instance, we noticed at the ministry that contractors get work and when they are asked to buy performance bond, they go to an entity and without any due diligence, given cover believing that government would never come back to cash the bond if things go wrong.
“Let me sound this warning. From now, when you are a contractor and you finish your work and it fails without explanation, we shall cash the bond and use same to restore the road.
“If you are a consultant, before you get any work from the ministry of roads and highways from now, you need to buy professional indemnity insurance because if you supervise any work that fails without explanation, we’ll draw down on your insurance cover to make sure we cover the damages that have been caused,” he stated.
To staff of agencies under the ministry, the minister warned that if they supervised any work and authorise payment for same and defects are detected within a specific period of time, “you’ll be surcharged” for professional negligence.
Mr Agbodza said the trend where roads deteriorate before their lifespan, sometimes immediately after construction, was worrying and government takes serious view of it.
“Ensuring value for money is the way to go and that is the only way we can restore some sanity and decency as we improve the quality of work.” he said.
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