The 2020 Auditor-General’s report has disclosed that delayed or abandoned projects cost Ghana GHS35.4 million.
The cost covered report for 2020, which was released by the Auditor-General on the use of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
The report explained that the amount quoted is part of the contract irregularities committed by various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) totalling GHS45.69 million.
The Auditor-General also uncovered that the various MMDAs still awarded new projects although existed ones had not been completed.
Specifically, the report cited a situation in the North Gonja District Assembly where GHS370,270.24 was spent on four projects awarded in 2016 but have been abandoned at various stages of completion.
In the Sefwi Akontombra District assembly, a contract worth GHS256,541.01, out of which GHS237,051.37 was paid to the contractor was awarded.
The contract was for the construction of a Police Station at Akontombra.
The project was originally scheduled to be completed on June 10, 2016, but was abandoned for 49 months due to the lack of funds.
Furthermore, completed projects were not put to use “as a result of non-availability of water and electricity connection, defects and lack of furnishing or siting of projects beyond easy access of the communities,” a situation that cost the nation GHS8.6 million.
In the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal, GHS214,352 was spent to construct a Police Post at Nkonya in 2017, but the facility is currently not in use.
The recommendations by the Auditor-General urged local assemblies to prioritise ongoing projects for completion before the commencement of new ones.
Aside from that, the report has recommended that all the defects on the completed projects should be fixed.
It said all the ancillary facilities needed, must be provided so such facilities could be put to use.
“We further recommended recovery for payments for unexecuted contracts, unjustified contingencies from the Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Finance Officers and Works Engineers,” the report added.
Meanwhile, the report has found out that some officers in the various assemblies mismanaged funds to the tune of GHS77.14 million due to deficiencies in the operations of the Assemblies.
Aside from contract, procurement, the deficiencies were identified in transactions under account areas such as cash management and tax irregularities.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
