Politicians should not be held responsible for the sub-standard infrastructural projects littered across the country according to the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo.
He believes the blame should be laid squarely on the door steps of the country’s engineers, whom he accused of either colluding with contractors or not supervising effectively those projects.
The Senior Minister was speaking at a capacity building conference organized by Ghana Institute of Engineers, Planners and surveyors.
Problems with infrastructure were highlighted at the same venue weeks ago when Mr. Osaafo Maafo launched the Ghana Infrastructure Report Card on roads, bridges, in which Ghana scored poorly.
Problems were noted the Minister recalled that the presenter blamed Ghana for the poor showing in the report.
“…they were trying to apportion the blame and they put the blame on the politicians and I said; well, everyone here can analyze… who designs the roads, they said engineers. Who would normally specify the various adverts for the tender after the contract has been awarded and who supervises the work? Engineers.”
“No politician goes and supervises work. Who measures work done for payment? Engineers and allied professionals. Who approves the payment? The politicians. So going through these, where would you put the blame. You have gone to measure and analyze and say the man due 30. My job is to approve the 30 and you think I should be blamed for approving what you have recommended? The answer is a big no.”
“So we professionals in the infrastructural deficit we have in this country,” Mr. Osafo Maafo concluded.
The Senior Minister’s comments follows frank words from the Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta-Akyea, who noted that Ghanaian engineers were losing out to their foreign counterparts on government projects because they cut corners, inflate figures on projects and were generally preoccupied with making money, as opposed to ensuring lasting projects.
Mr. Atta-Akyea added that foreign contractors were preferred “because they have distinguished themselves.”
Source: citifmonline.com
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The intellectual in Ghana is to blame for about 80% of the rot in the system. From coup d'etat, ineffective socialism/social democracy, design of educational system and course content,poor engineering and supervision of government and private projects, poor town planning, poor and ineffective health care delivery and many, many more. When outside the Ghanaian is a star. Bring them home and they quickly get stale. We need to change our attitude. What the Snr Minister said didn't mean only engineers are to blame but he means politicians are not the only group to blame. Note that Ghana scored poorly in the report they highlighted. Lets all be citizens and contribute our quota to make the country work once more
He is senior minister for nothing. Who pays the contractors? Who awards the contracts? Who sources for funding for the contracts? Which minister has ever blacklisted any contractor for shoddy works? Osafo Marfo should think and talk like a senior minister
The senior minister is 60% wrong. In 2006 in supervised a road project in Asante Akim North district. The contractor on the project did a shoddy job so I refused to pay them. The then chief director.... name withheld called called and threatened my office to approve payment. I refused, to do so. Guess what, the contractor was paid without our approval.The feeder roads engineers paid her. Why did they pay the contractor? Pressure from above. If the engineer refuses to pay he or she becomes a victim. So why must they refuse? They also have families to feed. We should all accept that the system is rotten. All have sinned.
Respectfully, Snr. Minister, you are partly right. Why do some politician take credit for construction of some roads? Both ought to be held responsible. " You have gone to measure and analyze and say the man due 30. My job is to approve the 30 and you think I should be blamed for approving what you have recommended? The answer is a big no.” I think you are also to conduct background search and confirm the quality of services rendered by a contractor in previous contacts before approving funds to finance project. If just approving funds is the duty of a politicians,your point is lacking and incomplete.