The Chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, Noble Wadzah has called on government to recognize contractors who have demonstrated value, for the use of petroleum revenues through the delivery of good projects.
He made this call, after he led a PIAC team to visit selected oil-funded projects in the Eastern Region, an exercise which forms part of the Committees regular activity to identify with effective use of the country’s petroleum revenues.
Mr. Wadzah as part of the calls, also, urged government to instigate punitory measures against contractors who carry out shoddy works on oil-funded projects.
According him, his outfit has oversight responsibility over the management of the country’s petroleum revenues and such practice defeats the purpose of getting value for money for the use of petroleum revenues.
He explained that, the petroleum revenues come from a depleting resource base, and it’s for this reason that, the law has been provided for using petroleum revenue in ways that support intergenerational benefit.
The projects the team visited included the Construction of Community Health-Based Planning Service (CHPS) compound at Ahankrasu, construction of Irrigation Infrastructure at Aditrase and Kornokle in the Yilo Krobo District and the Payment for a 3-Unit classroom block at Amanase Aboabo JHS and Owusu Wawase D/A Primary.
They also visited Bitumen Surfacing of New Tafo – Nobi – Samlesi – Anwiabeng Feeder roads, Construction of Irrigation Infrastructure at Aditrase and Kornole in the Yilo Krobo District and upgrading of Kade Wenchi Akim Oda Roads.
Touching on the construction of the Community Health-Based Planning Service (CHPS) compound at Ahankrasu, one of the projects they visited, he revealed that, information made available to them indicated that, the contract was awarded in November 2018. As at the time of PIAC’s visit, main construction works on the CHPS have been completed, finishing works were ongoing, while external works were underway. Supply and installation of medical equipment was yet to begin adding that the overall progress stands at 95 per cent.
The construction of the CHPS compound, which will serve the community health cases received total funding from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) to the tune of GHC1,206,419.14.
Mr Wadzah described that particular project as one that offered value for money and commended the contractor for his good works.
He said that, it was inspiring to note that there were contractors who shared in the value of putting petroleum revenues allocated to projects to good use and such people should be commended for their efforts.
Mr Wadzah also made a call for community involvement to be mandatory in project contracts as it stands, to ensure some level effectiveness and resilience in project works and delivery.
The PIAC team also held public forums at the district level in Abetifi and Kwabeng to inform and engage citizens on the management and use of petroleum revenues in the country as provided for in law.
The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), is a statutory institution committed to ensuring efficient, transparent and accountable management of petroleum revenues and investments, to secure the greatest social and economic benefit for the people of Ghana through active engagement with government and citizens.
