Parliament adopts report for construction of steel bridges

Accra, Nov.1, GNA - Parliament on Monday adopted the Finance Committee's report on a buyer's credit agreement, which would assist in the construction of 91 steel bridges throughout the country in the next three years.

The facility involves an agreement between the government of Ghana and the Rabo Bank International of the Netherlands for an amount of 9. 9 million euros (9,900.000.00) for the supply of modular steel truss bridges.

The report said the project, when implemented would remove bottlenecks at bridge sites that hampered sound economic activities. The committee said the contribution of road accessibility to economic growth and consequent poverty reduction could not be over-emphasised.

As part of the project, the House also approved a tax exemption amounting to 3.2 million euros for specified machinery and equipment, spare parts, personal effects and materials.

The amount also covers the income tax for the contractor's specified expatriate personnel in respect of the construction of the steel bridges in accordance with Article 174 of the constitution. Supporting the motion for the approval of the report, Alhaji Seidu Amadu, NDC-Yapei/Kusawgu, said the construction of steel bridges was most welcome since there were a number of logs serving as bridges on which heavy-duty truck often used.

Alhaji Ali Amadu, NDC-Atebubu South, said the bridges would help open up rural areas for the free movement of foodstuff and goods. The House later approved another report of the Committee on a request by the Finance Minister for the approval to waive taxes or exempt the payment of fiscal levies totaling 492,174.29 US dollars for goods to be procured under Small-Scale farms Irrigation Project Two. The project is being financed by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the government of Ghana and the Irrigation Farmers' Association.

The project, which covers a four-year period, comprises expansion of irrigation land in the country through the development of eleven small-scale irrigation schemes covering 820 hectares.