A Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah, has expressed worry about the inability of some contractors to complete projects on schedule despite the availability of funds, in the Upper West Region.
He also expressed dissatisfaction about the attitude of some contractors in delivering their projects below the contract specification, which could not stand the test of time.
Mr Korsah said “It is becoming difficult to get value for money. It is very difficult for people to benefit from what the government is bringing to them.”
The Deputy Minister expressed these concerns at Jirapa, when he visited government project sites, to ascertain progress of work as part of his monitoring visit to the region.
The projects include the Secondary City Project in Wa and the Agenda 111 project at Issa, in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District.
“We have officers within the assembly mandated to visit these sites and check, not only for early completion but also for the quality of the work done,” Mr Korsah said.
The minister also visited other District Assembly projects, including the Issa Senior High School, Jirapa Girls’ Module Junior High School, a students’ dormitory at the Lawra Nurses Training School and a District Court Complex at Nadowli.
Mr Korsah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman South, also interacted with staff of the assemblies to ascertain their challenges for redress as well as to assure them of government’s resolve to support them to deliver quality services to the people.
Concerning the Secondary City Project in Wa, the minister said he could not fathom why the project had been delayed for a year though funds were available for swift execution of work.
Mr Korsah asked staff of the assemblies to revamp their monitoring efforts to be able to hold contractors accountable, to ensure they executed the projects to specifications.
“If we do not hold people to check, they will take the country for granted. These contractors must be checked else they will short-change the country. If they do the wrong thing it is the taxpayer’s money they will use to pay them.
“We are doing everything possible to sharpen you for you to deliver quality services to the people. That is how they will feel the local governance,” Mr Korsah said.
He gave the assurance that he would present a report and recommendations to the sector minister for termination of the contracts of non-performing contractors.
Extension of the Modernised Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) project as well as provision of working equipment such as vehicles to enable them visit project sites topped the demand of the assembly staff. -GNA
