The Member of Parliament (MP) of the North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto, has accused the government of looting the country’s resources through the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT) project.
He indicated the present issue with Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT) is a result of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia’s government being engaged in corrupt carelessness which would potentially saddle Ghana with a chilling judgment debt of some US$ 3.6 billion.
He disclosed that contrary to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s pledge to the nation, including His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that the Boankra project will be completed in 2023 during the project’s sod cutting, the project has been abandoned halfway.
“The President’s sod cutting came after Parliament on the 14th of August, 2020 approved by resolution a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) Concessionary Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Ashanti Port Services Limited for an amount of US$330,000,000.00 for the development of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal”.
Hon. Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto
Furthermore, he noted that some documents he had intercepted from multiple official sources reveal that this parliamentary resolution has been blatantly flouted, particularly, by the Minister responsible for Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
The MP alleged that the Transport Minister after unanimously altering the parties to the parliamentary resolution without recourse to Parliament subsequently proceeded to terminate the concession agreement on 5th August 2023, without the consent nor approval of Parliament.
Moreover, he questioned the Transport Minister’s preference for a company known as Justmoh Construction Limited while he described the Minister’s preference as bizarre.
As such, he alleged that all parties involved in the contract had informed him that Justmoh Construction Limited was a direct imposition by the Transport Minister. “I have seen board minutes to this effect”, he added.
He noted that it is ironic that the government currently prosecuting the Hon. Collins Dauda, Hon. Dr. Kweku Agyeman-Mensah, and others for allegedly reviewing a parliamentary resolution on the Saglemi Housing Project without an amendment or approval by Parliament is turning a blind eye to this incident.
“Why is the Transport Minister, regardless of ongoing prosecutions of political opponents, unilaterally amending and disregarding a parliamentary resolution with utter impunity?”- Hon. Okudzeto.
Illegalities In Payment
Moreover, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto indicated that intercepted documents in his possession confirm that the Transport Minister, in addition to all his illegalities, ensured that payment of a colossal US$33,300,000.00 equivalent to a staggering GH₵ 449.5million has been made under suspicious circumstances to Justmoh Construction Limited.
“Further investigations reveal that Justmoh was selected and paid over GH₵ 400 million without regard to the procurement laws of Ghana… The Transport Minister concedes in his termination confirmation letter of November 21, 2023, that he will now ensure ‘Ghana Shippers takes the necessary processes to regularize the re-engagement’ of Justmoh”.
Hon. Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto
The Member of Parliament noted that the violations in payment committed by the Minister have now become the subject of fierce internal wrangling between Ashanti Port Services Limited and Justmoh Construction Limited.
He noted, however, that the Transport Minister has been unable to justify his actions, as a request from the Attorney General to him to respond to a petition against the Transport Minister’s conduct dated December 19, 2023, remains ignored.
Hon. Okudzeto alleged that through additional documentation he is presently reviewing, he has come to know that the preparatory works carried out by Justmoh, do not guarantee value for money as it has been paid a sum of US$36,222,140.64 for its work while it requested for more.
“…consistent with the pattern of inflationary opaque costing under this administration. This latest create, loot and share scheme will be explored in much detail later” – Hon. Okudzeto
He also noted that work on the strategic Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT) project has come to a halt because of the self-inflicted disorder created by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
More so, Hon. Okudzeto stated that instead of accomplishing the long-awaited dream of Boankra to spur industrialization and job creation, Ghanaians are ending up with an abandoned project, avoidable litigation, and a looming judgment debt of US$ 3.6 billion demanded by the Ashanti Port Services Limited.
