NDA bares teeth against non-performing contractors in Upper West Region

Some contractors engaged to work on various projects in the Upper West Region by the Northern Development Authority (NDA) risk losing their contracts as the authority declares its determination to get ongoing projects completed by 2024.

According to the NDA, all contracts are being reviewed, and contractors who have refused to settle and complete projects despite payments made to them will have their contracts terminated and reassigned to others.

The warning was issued by Sulley Sambian Esq., Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDA.

He bemoaned the poor attitude of some contractors, which he said is adversely affecting the government and the five regions of the north under the authority’s supervision.

Speaking to Ibrahim Muniru of Wa-based Radio MAK on May 29, 2024, he stated that the authority had awarded a total of 408 projects in the five operational regions.

According to him, the agriculture sector has the highest number (109) of these projects, followed by water (85), health (45), and education (44).

Others are road projects (18), KVIPs (17), energy (6), markets (4), and security (3).

While most of the projects had been paid for, Sambian lamented the lack of seriousness on the part of some of the recipients who had refused to return to the sites.

According to the NDA boss, the authority’s objective is to complete all outstanding projects by December 2024, especially after payments have been made.

Thus, he said the NDA will take action to terminate the contracts of non-performing contractors and re-award them to others who will be ready to work.

"From now up to the elections, my main goal is to see that all outstanding projects are finished and put into service. I've instructed all of my regional offices to commission projects as soon as they are finished and not wait for me to do so," he said.

Mr. Sambian also revealed that his priority now is the provision of potable water for all.

"I'm also once again focusing on the construction of more boreholes so that my people won't have to struggle to obtain water while I go enjoy my tap," he said.

The Northern Development Authority was set up to provide a framework for the accelerated economic and social development of the Northern Development Zone (NDZ) and related matters.