Parliament summons minister over loan facility

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, has summoned the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Collins Dauda, to appear before the House within one week to state how a 42 million euro Netherlands facility for the construction of storm drains in Accra was utilised.

Mr Adjaho issued the summons after a Deputy Minister in the same ministry, Mr Yaw Adusei, answering an urgent question in the House, denied knowledge of the existence of the facility.

Lafa drain

The Member of Parliament for Anyaa/Sowutuom, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, had sought to know from the Ministry when the Lafa drain would be constructed to address the perennial flooding problems in some parts of Accra

The deputy minister, in his answer, said the Hydrologocal Services Department was currently carrying out survey works to determine how much it would cost to construct the Lafa drain in Accra.

He added that as soon as the survey works were completed, funding would be sourced from the Ministry of Finance for the construction of the drain.

The deputy minister did not mention the 42 million euro facility which had been passed by the House a few years ago for the construction of storm drains, including the Onyinase and Lafa drains.

As soon as he had answered the question, Ms Botchwey rose to her feet and asked whether he was aware of the loan facility but Mr Adusei said he had no knowledge of it.

Ms Botchwey then prayed the Speaker to order the Minister to appear to tell the House if the money had been utilised and what it had been utilised for.

Mr Adjaho obliged.

The Lafa River runs over a stretch of about 13 kilometres and through Nii Boye Town, Santa Maria, Kwashieman, Awoshie, Ablekuma,, A Lang and Mallam, all in Accra.

The storm drain is expected to be constructed to enable water to empty into the Lafa River to prevent flooding in certain parts of the capital city.