Work on K3.9mil road delayed

WORK on the Tolukuma-Bakoiudu Road has been delayed because funds allocated for the project cannot be accessed, according to the Mineral Resources Authority.
“The K3.9 million earmarked for the 11.2km road is under the care of the Department of Finance as a result of the implementation of the Public Money Management and Regularisation Act 2017,” a statement from the authority said.
It was responding to a query from the Tolukuma Landowner Association on why the road construction had not started despite the funds having been allocated.
The contract for the road project was awarded by the Central Supplies and Tenders Board last November. The MRA then paid the contractor a mobilisation fee of K170,000 in December to start work in February this year.
It also paid K200,000 to the Department of Works to supervise the project.
Before more payments were made, the legislation came into force in April.
Funds were frozen by the Department of Finance.
“The implementation of the Public Money Management and Regularisation Act has affected not only this project but many other projects, even those funded by donor agencies such as the World Bank,” the statement said.
The authority said it had on several occasions requested the Department of Finance to allow it to access the funds but to date had not received any response.
Takeso Uson, the executive officer of the Tolukuma Landowner Association, said the tendering process was completed and K-Mele Construction had moved its machines to the project site.