Roads Minister to work with Telecoms Chamber to protect telecommunications, utility infrastructure

Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister of Roads and Highways, has pledged his support to the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) to protect telecommunications and other utility infrastructure from destruction during excavation and road construction.At a meeting with a seven-member delegation from the Chamber, the Minister lauded the efforts by the Chamber to protect such major investments and also prevent the disruption of critical services to the public.The GCT delegation was led by Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO).The members had called on the Minister to back their efforts to safeguard the infrastructure in the public interest, noting that such disruptive activities often peaked ahead of general elections because of increased construction and maintenance activities.Mr Asenso-Boakye , thus, assured the GCT Delegation of his Ministry's support towards securing a legal backing for the Road Reservation Management Policy.This, he noted, would regulate infrastructure coord ination during construction activities and hold contractors accountable for damages caused to such facilities.'We should find a way of managing these contractors to make sure that they go according to our framework. It is important,' he emphasised.'If we have the regulations, it will clearly spell out some powers to be able to enforce the manual.'On his part, Dr Ashigbey, told the Minister that it was important to get his backing towards synchronising all construction activities for better management and instituting 'punitive measures'.This, he said, would help prevent damages to such facilities and, particularly, ensure their security during the electioneering period.'We have come to ask the Minister to add his voice to what the agencies have been doing in trying to get the contractors to stop the damage they do to telecommunication infrastructure and to also put measures in place that will make it punitive for any contractor who damages infrastructure,' he stated.'We also seek for ways to work t ogether with the Ministry and the various agencies to ensure that there's better coordination amongst us to minimise damage to roads and destruction of telecommunication infrastructure that will come from the works of their contractors.'Source: Ghana News Agency