Gov't is plotting for people to steal our money- Minority Leader
The Minority Leader in Parliament says the estimates provided by government for projects to be undertaken with the $3 billion Chinese loan leaves room for corruption.
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the estimates create a fertile ground for “people to steal our money.”
"It became clear that no proper feasibility had been conducted. For instance in the agreements the Coastal Fishing Harbour and landing sites project had been quoted as requiring between $150 million- 250 million dollars, a gap of $100 million.
"For the Eastern Corridor Multi model transportation project the price quoted was between $150 million and $500 million. The gap in that one alone is $350 million.
"For the Accra Metropolitan ICT Enhanced Traffic Management project the cost was quoted as between $150 million and 200 million. The gap is 50 million,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.
He said the three projects could potentially cost $450 million to be executed.
“Instructively government in computing the various project cost which amounted to $3 billion used the price ceiling as they themselves quoted,” he said, adding "the total of the three projects then came to 950 million.
He said assuming the lowest price margin of 450 is used to construct the three project, what happens to the $500 million.
“The looseness of such broad banding certainly will create room for consultants and contractors to inflate the cost of the projects. Manifestly this arrangement will create space for corruption and fraudulent manipulation of the project cost and the nation would not have value for money,” he said.
The Minority Leader also hinted of plans to haul the Finance minister before Parliament to answer why the Ghana Gas project is being executed with Parliament's approval.
He said the action is in complete violation of article 181 (5) of the Constitution.
But the Deputy Information Minister Murtala Mohammed has questioned the motives by the minority in Parliament.
He wondered why the Minority would organize a press conference to make the issue public when they could have tabled the motion before Parliament for discussion.
He described the claims by the minority as “wild allegations” meant to “play on the emotions of Ghanaians.”
He said the Finance Minister will tomorrow answer all the questions posed by the Minority.