Thursday, 9 February 2017

Minister-designte Screams For Investigations Into Veep's $13.9m Official Residence

Central Regional Minister-designate Kwamena Duncan has called on State authorities to launch investigations into the official residence saga for Ghana's Vice Presidents.Recently, Ghana's Veep Dr. Bawumia made a shocking revelation where he stated that the previous government was spending $13.9 million on the construction of official residence to house Vice Presidents in the nation.

Dr. Bawumia wondered what kind of house the previous government was building to merit such cost.

"I asked the question why this project has not been finished, why has it delayed and they said ‘well the contractor is owed a lot of money’ and I said how much is this money and am told well it is a lot of money. So [I asked] how much is this house actually costing and I was shocked when I was told, can you believe in Ghana we are building a house to house our Vice President and this house is supposed to cost 13.9 million dollars.

“I mean what sort of house is it supposed to be, is the gate made of gold, pavement made of gold, blocks of gold, a house in Ghana for 13.9 million dollars…I couldn’t believe it…and I am hundred percent sure it didn’t go through competitive tender…and there it stands uncompleted,” Dr. Bawumia lamented.

Following his disclosure, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) debunked the claims stressing that the residence is not costing $13.9 million as stipulated.

The issue has gone back and forth with the Communications Director of the ruling NPP, Nana Akomea also revealing that the previous NDC government had already spent $8 million on the residence.

Speaking on Peace FM's Wednesday edition of 'Kokrokoo', Kwamena Duncan was alarmed at the estimation given for the construction of the official residence.

According to him, the persons who "sole-sourced" the project should be fished out and made accountable.

“How was it valued? Who and who, indeed, were part of the contract? How was it given out?” he queried.

He wondered how the previous administration arrived at such figures and so called for a thorough investigation to be carried out.