The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Alhaji Collins Dauda has in a startling revelation conceded government projects costs higher than similar ones that were constructed by private or individual organizations across the country.
He also confirmed buildings constructed by government contractors had low quality with most of them suffering imminent collapse due to the visible cracks and defects that glaringly show after their short space of completion.
He affirmed projects that were constructed by mining companies as well as other private companies as part of their social responsibility to the communities they operated were costing less than same projects being embarked upon by the government.
Speaking at two day consultative meeting with Presiding Members in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies,(MMDA’S) across the country, the Minister expressed grave concern about the unusual happenings.
HIGH FIGURES:
He questioned how government contractors could come out with huge costs which was far outweighing that of private contractors who were executing similar projects.
More worryingly, Alhaji Dauda observed that both private and government contractors purchased similar items on the market with the latter quoting astronomical figures at the end of their execution.
”It is strikingly amazing that government contractors would quote high figures for 6-Unit classroom blocks while similar classroom blocks that were being done by private companies especially those in the mining communities cost less than the amount for same projects”, Alhaji Dauda wondered.
ADMONITION:
He noted,” as presiding members do your own checks and see and you will find out that the same items being purchased by private companies were same being purchased by government contractors but the eventual costs were strikingly different”.
Alhaji Dauda therefore charged the Presiding Members to henceforth monitor such spending from the Assembly.
He implored them to check every step of projects earmarked for their respective assemblies so as to ensure value for the money government was spending.
REGIONAL MINISTER:
On his part, the Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon admonished the presiding members to consciously strive to co-exist with their assembly members so as to engender cordiality, cohesion and development.
Meanwhile, Mr Ackon has passionately called for the amendment of the Local Government Act that stipulated the confirmation or election of a government appointee or presiding member required a two thirds majority.
According to him, some assembly members were capitalizing on that score to derail and delay development to these respective assemblies.
