The Honorary Vice President of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Bright Simons has issued a damning critique of the Ghana Tradefair redevelopment project.
In a detailed exposé, the renowned policy analyst highlighted a series of alleged missteps, opacity, and outright negligence that have plagued the project under the current administration.
“Regular readers of this page know that there are some major policies, projects, and initiatives of the current Ghanaian government that I have been tracking consistently.
“Normally because they have much to teach about sound governance. The Tradefair is one of them. As this government winds to a close, I am bringing the final episodes of the saga.”
Bright Simons, Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Bright Simons began by calling attention to the stalled state of the Tradefair redevelopment project, despite claims from its management to the contrary. He pointed out that contrary to what PR agents of the Tradefair management have been saying, there has been no change in affairs since his last report.
He attached aerial images and videos that underscore the lack of progress of work at the Tradefair site, describing the hasty commencement of works on a purported convention center ahead of the 2024 elections as a political ruse, labelling it a “Potemkin village” – a façade meant to deceive the public.
According to Bright Simons, no substantive earthworks or foundational development were carried out, indicating that the project was never intended to materialize.
Mismanagement and Shady Dealings
The IMANI’s Honorary Vice President further criticized the decision to appoint a ruling party executive based in North America, an optometrist, to oversee one of Ghana’s most important exhibition centres.
“She started by demolishing businesses on the ground even before a bankable redevelopment plan had been created. That bankable plan was never done. Instead, a stream of opaque and shady deals were announced. After 8 years, the videos and pictures you see here are all there is”.
Bright Simons, Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Perhaps the most striking revelation according to Bright Simons is the alleged obstruction of efforts by a group of prominent Ghanaians in the diaspora who had proposed building a science and technology park at the Tradefair site.
He detailed how these highly accomplished individuals, some of whom serve on the boards of multibillion-dollar corporations in the U.S. and Europe, abandoned their plans after refusing to acquiesce to under-the-table demands from powerbrokers.
A Broader Symptom of Systemic Failure
Bright Simons did not restrict his critique to the Tradefair project. He pointed out that such failures are symptomatic of a broader pattern in Ghanaian governance, where successive administrations inherit incomplete or mismanaged projects, only to perpetuate similar lapses.
“If I have learned anything about politics in Ghana, it is that the same kind of dealmakers always pop up in every administration,” he remarked. To prevent a recurrence of such failures, Bright Simons emphasized the need for critical voices within ruling parties.
He urged supporters of the incoming administration to adopt the role of “insider critics” and hold their government accountable.
Additionally, the renowned civil activist called for the disclosure of all contracts and land deals associated with the Tradefair project, urging whistleblowers to share intelligence for public scrutiny.
“All contracts signed with all manner of entities in relation to Tradefair, including those that have given anyone title or access to land inside the place, SHOULD be LEAKED.
‘As for us in the ‘permanent opposition’, we will do our modest bit to keep a tab on things. Alongside our other 4 or 5 jobs that pay the bills. 20 years of recent Ghana history have shown, however, that politicians aren’t moved by that”.
Bright Simons, Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Bright Simons’ exposé on the Tradefair redevelopment saga serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of opaque governance and political expediency.
It is also a call to action for citizens and policymakers alike to champion transparency and accountability in public projects.
