Minister Terminates Lomex Contract

LOMEX CONSTRUCTION, a construction firm, has had its contract with the Ministry of Roads and Highways terminated as a result of its ineffectiveness, according to the sector Minister Joseph Gidisu.

The termination of the contract, which took effect from Friday July 6, 2012, was made known during the minister's surprise visit to Ashaiman to inspect the level of development with regard to road constructions in the area. However, the minister was disappointed when he realized that the construction firm, Lomex Construction, had failed to impress with road construction jobs given to it by the ministry.

Hon. Gidisu, who could not hide his disappointment, remarked, 'I am least impressed with the work of this contractor. I have on several occasions had pep-talk with him since 2009 when this stretch of road and the Tema roads were concurrently awarded on contract, but since not much has changed from my meetings with him, I have to move here to take away the major road construction from him and give it to Legna.'

Although Lomex's contract has been terminated, the minister was quick to point out that the company would only be limited to the construction of the drainage works on the dual carriage stretch for four weeks. He however warned that if after two weeks of monitoring, his outfit realizes that the contractor was not working efficiently on the drainage constructions, the ministry would be compelled to blacklist it together with other construction firms whose work rate is below what the ministry expects.

It was reported that when the minister drove from the Ashaiman-Accra Under-Bridge through to the Timber market roundabout to observe Lomex's construction work, he rather saw some uprooted tree stumps which had been left on the roads. He also noticed that the presence of the stumps impeded vehicular movement and also posed as accident threats to motorists who plied those roads.

Hon. Gidisu was also surprised when he realized that the major dual carriage road designed from the roundabout area to the township of Ashaiman were without inlets and outlets. He then noted that the absence of the inlets and outlets would invariably hinder vehicular movements particularly when there are human settlements along the corridors of the stretch.

The minister also saw a lot of uncompleted drainage works during the surprise tour of the area. The minister, who was least impressed about the situation in Ashaiman, noted that the contractors were being ineffective and that this would no longer be tolerated.

Appalled by the roads in the municipality, he charged urban roads' officials in the area to sit up and monitor the situation of non-performing contractors, and directed that any construction firm found to be incompetent should quickly be replaced with a more competent one which is ready to work.

Hon. Gidisu charged Dr. Daniel Darku, the Director of the Department of Urban Roads to critically supervise ongoing construction works.

Shifting his attention to Legna, he also charged the company to work diligently so as to make movement on the roads easier for both residents and motorists.

Legna Construction promised to move to site this week to ensure that the deplorable roads are put into shape.

The minister was accompanied by Numo Addinortey Addison, the Municipal Chief Executive and the area's Member of Parliament, Alfred Agbesi, as well as some senior members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.

  From Razak Mardorgyz Abubakar, Ashaiman