Deterioration of petroleum revenue-funded projects worrying — Nana Kweku Dei
A member of the Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC), Nana Kweku Dei, has described as worrying, the situation where petroleum revenue-funded projects across the country are allowed to deteriorate.
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“I must say that I am not impressed with the current state of some of the projects funded from petroleum revenue as they are fast deteriorating. Some, only two years after they are handed over for use” he added.
The chief said funds used for such projects nationwide were for the citizens and, therefore, advised the people to safeguard those investments in their various communities for the use of future generations as well.
Nana Dei, who is the Development Chief of Pakro, near Nsawam, in the Eastern Region, and a former Editor, of the Daily Graphic, made the observation when he led a PIAC team on a working visit to some petroleum revenue-funded projects in the Upper East Region last Monday.
He is the representative of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at PIAC, a statutory body established under section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), 2011, to provide additional oversight in the management and use of the nation’s petroleum revenue.
The current state of a section of the Bolgatanga-Naaga road
The team included Edward Yaw Afriyie, representative of the Association of Ghana Industries; Yom Ama Abledu, representative of the Ghana Bar Association; Mark Agyemang, Technical Manager; Philomina Otabil, senior administrative officer, and Enock Baiden, an assistant administrative officer.
Projects
Among projects inspected were the Bolgatanga-Naaga road, a Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, a nurses’ accommodation at Sakaribisi, and an early childhood development centre at Animoah in the Bolgatanga East District.
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Others were an irrigation infrastructure at Tamne in the Garu District, upgrading of Paga town roads, supply of 25 pieces of hospital beds to the Paga Hospital, rehabilitation of Paga-Sirigu and other feeder roads and the construction of a three-unit classroom block at Bonia.
Collaboration
The chief called for effective collaboration of all stakeholders in the monitoring and supervision of projects, saying “as a country, we cannot be sinking huge petroleum revenue funds into projects that cannot stand the test of time”.
He said such a collaboration would enable officials of district assemblies and the local people to keenly monitor the execution of such projects for proper work to be done.
“The era where central government awarded projects without the knowledge of local assemblies should be nipped in the bud to ensure transparency and accountability,” the chief said.
He further urged the government to use the petroleum revenue to invest in major infrastructural projects that would make a bigger impact on the lives of the people.
For instance, Nana Dei, said that if the government had focused on working on the Bolgatanga-Naaga road, it would have been completed by now to bring relief to users.
The Upper East Regional Engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) Emmanuel Antwi, said the project which was initially awarded at a sum of GH¢63.9 million, and was expected to be completed in 2022, was 60 per cent complete.
He attributed the delay in payment to the contractor, Messrs Araco Construction Limited, but said: “With the revised contract, the project is expected to be completed by December this year.”
Writer’s email; gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.
