NDC dodges $29m Kumasi Airport scandal

The Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government has been running away from the duty they owe Ghanaians to explain how it could spend a whopping $29 million of the nation's resources on the rehabilitation of the runway of the Kumasi Airport.

There was no responses to questions raised by Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI-Ghana, before the end of 2014, neither has there been any response to similar concerns raised last week by Kwabena Agyei-Agyepong, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party.

The inauguration of the aeronautical ground lighting system was characterized by extraordinary fanfare, at a time it had been reported that AngloGold Ashanti and others had also built and inaugurated an airport at Obuasi at a cost of $4 million.

The airport built by AngloGold has a two kilometre runway and a modern terminal with offices and lounges for departures and arrivals.

The announcement of the outrageous cost of the Kumasi Airport rehabilitation project also took place at the same time it had been reported that Ethiopia was building three new airports at a cost of US$ 64.5million.

Like many well-meaning Ghanaians who are worried about the current spate of wanton dissipation of the nation's resources by the Mahama-led NDC government, both Kwabena Agyepong and Franklin Cudjoe insist the real cost of the Kumasi Airport rehabilitation project could not be anywhere near the $29 spent by the government.

To Mr Cudjoe, it is far-fetched for such an amount to be used for the project whilst Ethiopia is constructing three new airports at an estimated cost of US$ 64.5m.

Meanwhile, Kwabena Agyepong has served notice the NPP is going to write officially to request the details of the project.

In a news release issued by the NPP, he expressed total dissatisfaction with the amount of $29million the NDC government claimed to have used for the project.

"It is not possible for government to use $29million for the resurfacing of the runway. As an Engineer, I have done civil works at the airport, and I know what goes into it," he stated, adding: "Ghanaians demand value for money and not to be short-changed".

Apparently worried about the current level of corruption in the country, Mr Agyepong said the NPP would ensure that true transparency and accountability prevailed in the financial management of the country.

"We shall hold their feet to the fire and make sure Ghanaians are aware of how the country's resources are been used," he stressed.