Evidence of Inflated Contracts under NDC

The perception that the cost of projects being undertaken by the Mills-Mahama NDC administration are hugely inflated is growing by the day after another set of startling revelations about the cost of some projects undertaken in the Manya Krobo District were made by Dr. Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, Eastern Regional Minister.

These revelations were made at a press briefing in Koforidua by Dr Apea-Kubi after he inspected a number of development projects in the Manya Krobo District as part of a working visit to the area.

According to the regional minister, a six classroom block constructed at the Krobo Girls Presbyterian Senior High School cost GH¢200,000. The project was funded by the GETFund.

Yet, two years earlier, in 2008, a similar 6-unit classroom block cost GH¢80,000. The six classroom block has obviously been inflated by some 150%.

At Aklomuase, the Minister also inspected a six-unit classroom block being funded by the GETFUND at GH¢145,000, a project inflated but some 81%.

In 2010, under President Mills, a 6-unit classroom block cost GH¢222,730 in the Greater Accra Region and GH¢261,000 in the Ashanti Region

The cost of the six-unit classroom blocks constructed is evidence of the inflated nature of contracts under President JEA Mills, since the STX deal set a new standard.

In March this year, The New Statesman, also revealed the NDC government had presented a 442 million Euros (US$585m) loan agreement with a clay making company, Opus 7, for the provision of 200 ambulances and the construction of 12 district hospitals.

The clay-based manufacturer offered to build 12 district hospitals at the cost of $40 million each, with analysts fearing the price was highly inflated and smacks of grand corruption.

At Krobo Girls, the minister inspected a two-storey dormitory block with an assembly hall being funded by GETFUND at GH¢800,000.

At Aklomuase, the minister also inspected a bungalow being rehabilitated for the District Director of Education funded by the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and a construction of two- unit teachers accommodation also funded by DACF at GH¢ 45,000.

The competence of some of the contractors handling these projects has also called into question by the regional minister.

According Dr Apea-Kubi he was not impressed with the quality of work of some contractors with respect to the construction of school blocks and other infrastructure in the various districts.

The regional minister said the government was spending the tax payers’ money to provide developmental projects to the people and expected contractors who had been lucky to win bids to ensure that Ghanaians get value for their money.

He called on districts engineers to monitor all projects in progress to ensure that proper works with high quality were done.