We’ve not abandoned sea defence projects – Gov’t

The Ministry of Works and Housing has dismissed claims by former Deputy Works and Housing Minister, Sampson Ahi, suggesting government has abandoned all ongoing sea defence projects across the country.

According to the Ministry, contrary to these claims, government has paid a substantial amount of money to contractors putting up the sea defense walls within the country’s coastal communities for completion.

The Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Eugene Boakye Antwi, who gave the clarification said; “The Ministry under the able leadership of honourable Samuel Atta Kyea visited all the Sea Defence projects that we inherited under the previous administration. We have been to Berekuso, New Takoradi, Adjoa and all the projects that we have inherited and what I can categorically say is that, we have not abandoned any of these projects.”

He admitted that although payment to contractors working on the project had been “lacking over the past month or two, all contractors have received something from the Central government for the ongoing projects.”

He therefore said it will be unfair for Mr. Ahi to make such claims.

Announcing other measures government was undertaking to complete other projects, Mr. Antwi. said ; “First of all, we have identified 5 key projects that we have to embark upon that is Axim sea defence project, the Elmina one, Anomabo among others. These projects are very capital intensive and the government of Ghana cannot do this alone so we expect some donor funding.”

Mr. Ahi had accused government of halting all sea defense projects the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government started.

According to him, the projects, over ten in number, had been halted because the contractors had not been paid since the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office.

Speaking to Citi News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku, Mr. Ahi, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Bodi Constituency in the Western Region, charged government to immediately pay the contractors to enable them resume work.

“All the sea defense projects have been abandoned. Before we left office, we had started working on over ten sea defense projects along the coastal belts. There were some in Takoradi, Volta and Central regions just to make sure that the people living within the coast are protected. When they (NPP government) assumed office, they have abandoned the projects. The contractors are not on site because they have not been paid since the NPP assumed office.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Ministry of Works and Housing has dismissed claims by former Deputy Works and Housing Minister, Sampson Ahi, suggesting government has abandoned all ongoing sea defence projects across the country. According to the Ministry, contrary to these claims, government has paid a substantial amount of money to contractors putting up the sea defense walls within ... Read Full Story