Upper West Akim Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Drah, has called for robust regulatory frameworks to govern Public Private Partnership Initiatives in Ghana, citing the abandoned public toilet facility project initiated in 2017 as a stark example of the challenges faced by PPP initiatives.
He emphasised the need for proper monitoring, implementation, and risk assessment in PPP projects, as well as improving transparency and accountability, enhancing capacity building, and developing robust regulatory frameworks to protect the interests of all parties involved.
Honourable Emmanuel Drah said there was a need to address abandoned projects, particularly public toilet facilities, which have been left unfinished and unused despite costing over GH₵600,000 per unit.
He proposed measures to improve transparency, accountability, and capacity building in public-private partnerships to unlock their full potential for sustainable development.
Emmanuel Drah argued that despite partnering with over 500 contractors and receiving approval from the Ministry of Local Government, the project was left unfinished, leaving many contractors frustrated and financially burdened.
“If PPA is properly done and properly monitored, it will attract a lot of investors into the country. In 2017, there were some investors in Ghana to partner with the government for the construction of public toilet facilities across Ghana. That company, Ghana First Company Limited, went into an agreement with several contractors, not less than 500 contractors, who partnered with Ghana First Company Limited. Upon citing a document from the Ministry of Local Government through the MMDCEs, these projects were to be cited in all Districts and Municipal Assemblies across Ghana. Mr. Speaker, it will surprise you to see that as we speak now, that project has been abandoned. A lot of contractors, from the information I gathered, suggested that some even died out of frustration because they borrowed huge sums of money to finance or pre-finance the project to a certain degree of completion.”
This case underscores the importance of proper monitoring, implementation, and risk assessment in PPP projects. He further called for enhanced capacity building by providing training and support for government officials, contractors, and other stakeholders to manage PPP projects effectively.
The MP said that by addressing these concerns and learning from past experiences, Ghana can unlock the full potential of PPPs and drive sustainable development across various sectors.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
