The Minority has questioned why President Akufo-Addo has initiated a $338 million project for the reconstruction of the Tema motorway when he still owes GH¢15 billion to contractors for completed and certified work.
With only three months remaining in his term, the NDC believes that this move is an attempt to gain favor with voters for the New Patriotic Party ahead of the 2024 elections.
“You cannot even fund the payment of salaries, statutory funds to District Assemblies, NHIA, GETFund, etc,” and, thus, “What is the point of cutting sod for a $338-million project 3 months before you are booted out of office?” It is propaganda for votes,” the statement said, adding: “Ghanaians will not fall for this. NPP, not again.”
The NDC has stated that while they are not opposed to the renovation project, they have a duty to ensure value for money and accountability from the New Patriotic Party.
“Indeed, we support the principles behind the project and have demonstrated this in the past, but we will not shirk our responsibility to ensure value for money and accountability,” said the Minority’s spokesperson on infrastructure, Governs Agbodza.
In May of this year, the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry expressed serious concerns about the plight of its members due to an outstanding debt of GH¢15 billion owed by the government, which has been accumulating since 2014.
The Chamber reported that this financial strain has resulted in the deaths of some members, left others incapacitated, and led to legal actions by financiers over delayed loan repayments.
The government announced that it had spent about GH¢49 billion to pay contractors.
However, Emmanuel Cherry, CEO of the Construction Chamber, denied knowledge of receiving such funds in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday, May 27.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the significance of the project as Ghana’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in road infrastructure.
“By uniting the expertise and resources of both the public and private sectors, and with the strategic backing of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), we are not merely constructing a road; we are building a future,” he declared.
Note that the reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway will be carried out in three distinct phases: from the Accra-Tema Motorway Roundabout to the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to the Apenkwa Interchange, and from the Apenkwa Interchange to the Neoplan Junction on the Accra-Kumasi Road.
President Akufo-Addo used the sod-cutting event to reiterate his administration’s commitment to modernizing Ghana’s infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century.
“Already, we have made significant strides with ongoing projects such as the dualization of the Santasi-Ahiakwanta Road and the Adenta-Dodowa Road,” he said, adding that other key road projects, including the dualization of the Kasoa-Winneba Road and the Takoradi-Agona Junction Road, are progressing steadily.
He also revealed that contractors are being mobilized for the Atsutsuare-Volivo-Aveyime and Dafor-Adidome-Asikuma Roads, which will feature an interchange at Asikuma Junction. Funded by the Government of Ghana and the African Development Bank, these projects are designed to enhance travel efficiency and reduce vehicle operating costs once completed.
Below is Agbodza’s full statement:
ACCRA-TEMA MOTORWAY PROJECT-PARLIAMENT DID NOT APPROVE $660m
1. The NDC is not against improving the Accra-Tema Motorway. Indeed, we support the principles behind the project and demonstrated same in the past. But will not shirk our responsibility to ensure value for money and accountability.
2. Parliament ONLY approved $339m Multi-Year funding for the project. We did not approve $660m. No one has the right to commit the country to future spending on the project without approval from Parliament.
3. The source of funding for the project is NOT SUSTAINABLE. The NPP is claiming the source of funds for the project is Mahama’s Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF). The NPP said the same thing about how they were going to fund the so-called Agenda 111, housing projects etc. We all know the status of Agenda 111, etc today . The NPP has collapsed the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF). Unlike the past when GIIF backed projects that are self-financing and sustainable, such as Kotoka Airport Terminal 3 etc, the NPP incompetently invested the funds in unproductive ventures like SKYTRIAIN, PULLMAN HOTEL etc.
4. In any case, why is NPP not explaining why they cancelled the contract between the Road Ministry and Morta Engils and why they paid $2.5 million towards that unwholesome contract?
5. The government currently OWES ROAD CONTRACTORS ABOUT GH¢15BILLION for works completed and certified and NOT PAID FOR.
Currently, the government cannot even fund the payment of salaries, pay Statutory Funds to District Assemblies, NHIA, GETFund, etc. What is the point of cutting sod for $338 million project 3 months before you are booted out of office? IT IS PROPAGANDA FOR VOTES . Ghanaians will not fall for this . NPP, NOT AGAIN.