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A Contract for work on the Akwapim Ridge to protect motorists from the effect of falling rocks, is to be awarded at the end of October. That, according to a Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Maintenance at the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr Fred Joe Peseo, is as a result of a review of the contract. Four contractors who have expressed interest in executing the job are, therefore, expected to submit their new proposals to the GHA by September this year. The GHA had announced two months ago that the contract to prevent the falling of boulders from the cliff on the Aburi section of the Accra-Aburi road on the Akwapim Ridge, would be awarded at the end of June, 2014. "The opening of tenders has taken more time because we had to review the work plan. This is a specialised area and it is important that we take precaution to ensure that the contractor that gets the job moves in to fix the problem once and for all," Mr Peseo stated. Background Imminent disaster is lurking on the Aburi section of the Accra-Aburi road on the Akwapim Ridge, as boulders perch precariously on one another, ready to fall, at the least disturbance, onto the Accra-bound section of the road. The timely intervention of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) prevented what could have resulted in a tragic situation when the rocks began to fall onto the road some months ago. When the contractors cut through the mountainous stretch during the reconstruction of the road about seven years ago, the boulders acted as a retaining wall. Unfortunately, they have now become a source of grave concern to motorists, some of whom have told the Daily Graphic that they were very careful when approaching that side of the road because they could not determine when the boulders would give way. The Akwapim South District Chief Executive, Mr Kwadwo Afari Djan, described the situation as alarming, stating that any move to halt the fall of the rocks to avoid disaster should be an urgent one. �As of now, the rocks have not caused any disaster, but there is cause for alarm, judging by the way they are falling off the cliff,� he said. Contract Mr Peseo said the GHA had had discussions with the contractors and it had been agreed that they reviewed the work plan and considered the development of landed property in and around the Akwapim Ridge, among other issues. A former Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, attributed the situation to the construction of houses on top of the hill, after an inspection early this year. During a visit to the place, it was observed that some rocks were falling unhindered, for which reason quite a number of motorists preferred driving in the inner lane, and quickly too. Asked what measures the GHA had put in place to protect motorists and prevent any tragedy from occurring in the mean time, Mr Peseo said the Authority had been clearing the rocks that fall onto the road in order not to slow down traffic along that section, adding that the Greater Accra Regional Office had been monitoring the situation daily.