Akufo-Addo projects in Oti Region abandoned while our people continue to suffer — NPP Regional Executives

The newly elected Oti Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed concern over the slow pace of work and abandonment of some infrastructural projects initiated under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration.

The executives said several projects, including health facilities under the Agenda 111 programme and road projects across various districts and municipalities, had either stalled or were progressing at a pace that did not reflect the urgency of residents' needs.

Dr Frank Yirenkyi, Oti Regional NPP Chairman, raised the concerns during the Party's maiden press engagement with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Dambai.

He said the situation was depriving residents of critical infrastructure and undermining efforts to improve access to healthcare, roads and other essential services.

“Projects that were ongoing under President Akufo-Addo have not seen a single block added by the current NDC government. They are simply gathering dust while our people continue to suffer,” he said.

Dr Yirenkyi cited the Agenda 111 hospital projects at Kpassa, Chinderi, Kadjebi and Jasikan, among others, as examples requiring urgent attention.

He also cited the Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) administration block, residential facilities for staff, the Regional Police Administration complex and officers' bungalows.

On road infrastructure, the executives called on the Government to pay attention to the Worawora-Jasikan stretch, Borae-Chinderi stretch, Chinderi-Zongo Macheri road and the Eastern Corridor road.

Dr Yirenkyi said the projects were initiated to expand healthcare infrastructure and bring essential health services closer to communities, particularly underserved areas.

The executives also raised concerns about several road projects initiated under the previous administration, saying their slow progress was affecting transportation, movement of agricultural produce and economic activities in the region.

According to them, the Oti Region, which depended largely on agriculture, required reliable road networks to facilitate the movement of farmers and their produce from production centres to markets.

They said delays in completing the projects were affecting service delivery and denying residents the intended benefits of the investments.

The NPP Oti Regional Executives called on the Government, Ministry of Finance and relevant sector ministries to make the necessary financial commitments to enable contractors to return to project sites and complete outstanding works.

They stressed that projects funded with public resources should not be allowed to deteriorate because of a change in political administration.

“We are not doing politics with development. Our demand is simple: complete the projects for the people of Oti. That is what they voted for,” the Regional Executives added.

The executives said completing the projects would also prevent the Government from incurring additional costs associated with deterioration, inflation and eventual rehabilitation of abandoned structures.

They further urged the Government to publish clear information on the status of the projects, including their level of completion, outstanding works, funding arrangements and timelines for completion.

The NPP Regional Executives also called on the media, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify monitoring of public projects in the region.

They urged the media to independently visit project sites and report on their current conditions to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

The executives said they would continue to engage relevant stakeholders on development projects requiring public attention, while giving government institutions and contractors the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised.

They maintained that their demand was not aimed at taking credit for projects initiated by the previous administration, but at ensuring that investments made with taxpayers' money were completed and made available to the people.

The NPP executives said completion of the projects would contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the region.

They said completed hospitals would expand access to healthcare, while improved roads would facilitate trade, agriculture, education and other economic activities.

They added that completion of the projects would also create employment opportunities for local residents through construction, maintenance and related economic activities.

The executives therefore appealed to traditional leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and residents to support the call for completion of the projects.

They said sustained public attention and constructive engagement with the Government were necessary to ensure that development projects did not remain unfinished or become a waste of public resources.

The press engagement formed part of the new Regional Executive Committee's commitment to engaging the media and other stakeholders on issues affecting development and the welfare of residents in the Oti Region.

GNA