The Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza, has fumed over the amount of money government spent on the recently commissioned Flower Pot Interchange project in Accra.
He questioned how the project, which was awarded in November 2016 for GH¢69,506,657.24 and was expected to be completed within 24 months, has experienced a staggering cost increase of approximately 1200%.
The project, originally awarded by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in 2016 for GH₵69.5 million, saw its cost revised to GH₵147 million in 2017.
However, under the Nana-Addo administration, the cost has ballooned to nearly GH₵1 billion.
Taking to the X platform, Kwame Agbodza questioned the rationale behind this drastic price hike, suggesting that the government owes the public a comprehensive explanation regarding the escalation.
“President Akufo Addo and Dr Bawumia , Why is FLOWER POT project awarded in November 2016 at a cost of (GH¢69,506,657.24) to be completed in 24 months got a price INFLATION of about 1200%? . This project is now being completed close to ghs1,000,000,000. Yes , about ghs1BILLION,” he wrote.
In response, the Director-General of the National Roads Authority (NRA), James Amoo-Gottfried, attributed the cost increase to the expansion of the scope of work involved in the project.
“The initial scope was entirely different. It was to involve two overpasses: one over the Flower Pot roundabout and another across the motorway (Accra-Tema Motorway), totalling about 120 metres of bridge length. What we have now is about 1,022 metres of bridge length,” he explained.
“So, the scope as originally planned and what we have now is entirely different ” he said
The Flower Pot Interchange is a key infrastructure project prioritized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, located at a critical junction in the capital city.
On Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo formally commissioned the project, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion on both the north and south corridors of the Tema Motorway.
The interchange is expected to improve connectivity and reduce travel time for commuters.
The Flower Pot Interchange comprises a dual carriageway viaduct that stretches for 802 meters, surfaced with asphaltic concrete.
It also features a 140-meter ramp from Shiashie leading onto the viaduct towards Airport Hills and an 80-meter ramp that connects the viaduct to the motorway heading towards Tema.
President Akufo Addo and Dr Bawumia , Why is FLOWER POT project awarded in November 2016 at a cost of (GH¢69,506,657.24) to be completed in 24 months got a price INFLATION of about 1200%? . This project is now being completed close to ghs1,000,000,000. Yes , about ghs1BILLION pic.twitter.com/NCEtLEXh8L
— kwame agbodza (@KAgbodza) November 18, 2024