Minister accuse DCE’s of being corrupt

Deputy Brong Ahafo regional Minister, Ignatius Baafuor Awuah is accusing District Chiefs Executives (DCE) of conniving with contractors to exploit the country.

He alleged that the DCE's arranged with district engineers to inflate project costs after the contractors had submitted estimates for the projects.

“ When the contract is approved the contractor is to collect the money, the percentage added will be deducted. The DCE will again demand a share of the contract sum. When this happens and since the contractor is profit-oriented, he would purchase inferior materials and eventually end up with a shoddy work,” he said.

Mr Bafuor Awuah who was a former Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani made the allegations on Monday at a workshop on democracy and good governance.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) organized the workshop for assembly members, heads of departments and a section of the public.

It was to indetigy causes of corruption, it nature and manifestation and also to discuss and work out strategies to fight it at the grassroots level.

The minister suggested the establishment of projects implementation committees to monitor projects.

He said the project cost as well as the names of contractor and client should be displayed on a notice board for the public to be conscious of the ongoing project.

Mr Bafuor Awuah said the government was doing everything possible to curb corruption in the country, which he said had reflected in the enactment of the internal Audit Act as well as Whistle Blowers Bill, now pending before Parliament.