National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has strongly criticised the government accusing it of inflating the prices at which the equipment for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), was acquired.
According to Mr Ablakwa, a parliamentary investigation has uncovered that the cost of equipment procured for the project was inflated by over $102 million (GH₵1.6 billion).
He said this has left Ghanaian taxpayers to bear an unnecessary burden of $178.7 million instead of the actual $76.6 million.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Ablakwa revealed that the equipment, sourced mainly from Chinese manufacturers LiuGong and Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group, and supplied through J.A. Plantpool, a Zoomlion subsidiary, was bought at prices inflated by up to 217 per cent.
“Even more appalling, industry officials engaged say that these rates can be substantially discounted with a bulk purchase, and are therefore in total shock that the super bulk purchase by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/J.A.Plantpool deal rather led to these cruel price escalations.
Those who loudly promised to protect the public purse have left suffering Ghanaian taxpayers with a road equipment bill of US$ 178.7 million when we shouldn’t be paying anything more than US$ 76.6 million,” he said.
The North Tongu MP said this revelation contradicts Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s previous statements in 2016 and 2017, where he criticised single-sourcing contracts for being overpriced and not providing value for money.
He said despite the Vice President’s promises to curb these practices, the DRIP contract, which was single-sourced, has proven to be a glaring example of the very problem he vowed to end.
“Some experts have told me that with US$ 178.7 million, Ghana would have been better off starting its own road construction equipment manufacturing company.
“Now many analysts believe the excitement of Vice President Bawumia about DRIP has got little to do with any potential impact in road construction,” the North Tongu MP said.
Mr Ablakwa said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament will launch a full investigation into the matter.
He also called for concrete action to prevent the full payment of the inflated amount and to hold those responsible accountable for what he described as a “national wrecking” deal.