Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has admitted that even though government is keen on carrying out and continuing with major projects across the country by the previous government – where to get the funds has been extremely difficult.
According to him, the affordable housing project which was started during the ex-President John Agyekum Kufour era and left unattended to by the Mahama-led government is “worrying” – after assuring that the incumbent plans to "revisit" it.
The practice of abandoning started projects whenever a new government takes over office has been viewed as a major threat to the country's development agenda.
As a result, fears were expressed that the current government, having outlined its own development program for the country, will abandon infrastructural projects commenced by the erstwhile John Mahama administration.
Available records indicate that an estimated GHC 21million oil revenue spent on some school projects remain largely uncompleted and abandoned. In the Ashanti Region, a teaching hospital administration block, a project to address the large number of admissions into the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Medical Sciences, has been abandoned after eight years.
Other major ones include the 60-bed capacity ultra-modern Bank of Ghana Hospital which was completed in 2017, but has been left to rot after two of completion. The facility, located at Cantoments in Accra, was part of a GHC445.8 million capital expenditure commitments of the bank to major projects including the construction of a data center and its guest house.
The Euroget 6 District Hospitals project with a 60-bed capacity - Tepa, Nsawkaw, Konongo, Madina, Salaga and Twifo Praso - which cost $339 million, have also all been abandoned.
Asked by host of PEACE FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Kwami Sefa Kayi if government faces challenges in acquiring funds for such projects – the soft spoken minister was quick to say “oh yes its difficult, its difficult but we [NPP] has done our best.”
Listen to interview
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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This is not cogent. But they get funds easily to start newer projects which will go all way to be uncompleted. This wastage should really stop.
so if raising money to complete a project by the previous govt is difficult, why then, didn't you people allow him to finish all his project before you come to power. am not siding with d ndc govt. no but you people made it looked like you are d next Jesus to turn things around for our dear nation. ndc abandoned project work started by kufuor and so you people will do same abi?. are we really thinking at all? i just dont get it when we try to put our party caps on to defend stuff that we are to speak about and condemn? hmmmmmm its such a pity. amazingly, we the young ones to condoning such behaviors
SO WHICH SENSIBLE PRESIDENT WILL END THIS CYCLE OF WASTAGE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR HEADS SUCH THAT THEY FORGET GHANAIANS ARE THE ULTIMATE VICTIMS THAT WILL SUFFER FROM ALL THESE FO00LISH ATTITUDES BEING DISPLAYED BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY. YOU CAN'T RAISE FUNDS TO COMPLETE GOVT PROJECTS BUT YOU CAN RAISE FUNDS TO BUY LUXURY CARS HUH. FU1CKING COUNTRY WITH ***barred word*** LEADERS
Mahama and NDC failed to continue most of the laudable projects left behind by President Kuffour resulting and thus their contract prices have been affected by economic changes i.e. inflation and exchange rate. That becomes difficult or impossible to source extra funds to finish such projects. It might take quiet some time for government to complete them. Should Mahama be given another 4-year mandate, he will definitely abandon 1D1F,1C1D, free shs and other projects.
I CANNOT THINK FAR. SOME ONE SHOULD EDUCATE ME HERE. WHY SHOULD GOVERNMENT LOOK FOR EXTRA MONEY TO COMPLETE PROJECTS ON PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION? HOW DO WE GIVE CONTRACTS IN GHANA? YOU HEAR ALL THE TIME USA OR CHINESE OR NETHERLANDS HAS GIVEN LOAN FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS. WHERE DOES THOSE MONIES GO? THAT MEANS THEY PRETEND TO START THE PROJECT, CHOP THE MONEY AND ABANDON THE PROJECT. HEADS MUST ROLL. ALL CONTRACTS ARE CAPTURED IN THE BUDGET SO WHY SHOULD THIS ADMINISTRATION LOOK FOR EXTRA MONEY TO COMPLETE ABANDON PROJECTS BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?