Despite widespread criticism from residents of Zingu in the Wa Municipality about the quality of work done by Licus Enterprise on a GH₵1.2 million Zingu-Wa road project, Mr Issahaku Tahiru Moomen, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has publicly expressed satisfaction with the contractor’s work.
Heavy rainfall on Saturday, August 31, 2024, washed away the culvert constructed to bridge the valley that cuts the Zingu community from Wa. The project has been marred by controversy following the recent collapse of a culvert constructed under the project.
Residents of Zingu have lambasted the contractor for substandard work, citing the culvert's inability to withstand heavy rainfall.
Mr Seidu Kunleopie, a resident, told Info Radio that the contractor had caused more damage to the road than fixing it and urged the Wa Municipal Assembly to take urgent steps to maintain the road.
Madam Jaharata Mahama, also a resident, said she participated in the meetings regarding the SOCO project in the community but that none of the project specifications as discussed during the meetings had been complied with.
Naa Yuoni said the community members had anticipated the impending disaster on the culvert and boycotted a planned commissioning of the project about three months ago, describing the work on the culvert as "sub-standard."
He said a culvert constructed by the community through communal labour about two years ago at that same spot was still intact while the one constructed under the SOCO project could not last for three months.
However, the Wa MCE, responding to the residents' concerns, praised the contractor, noting that the assembly was satisfied with his work.
“Yes, as far as I’m concerned, I'm satisfied with the work of the contractor. Force majeure if anybody understands what it is and knows that natural occurrences nobody has control over it, you will not blame the contractor,” he stated.
He also disagreed with the residents’ claim that the contractor has caused more problems to the road than before. Mr Moomen said, “It is not true, he has not caused any problem.”
Residents of Zingu have expressed their displeasure over the MCE’s praise for Licus Enterprise. They demand that the contractor rework the project to meet the community’s needs.
“If he [MCE] said he is satisfied with the work, he’s not fair to us in this community,” said Osman Abdulai, a resident.
“If the MCE was staying in this community and use the road everyday to Wa, I don’t think he will dare say that he’s satisfied with the work,” a resident stated.
Info Radio visited the site and found that the contractor had returned to refill the washed away section of the road with gravel. Additionally, there were patches of gravel on other sections of the road.
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