A/R Minister Says Lack Of Funds Accounts For Stalled Projects

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah has admitted that the lack of funds accounts for the numerous stalled projects in the region including roads and other infrastructural facilities.

According to him, the situation emanates from the economic struggles of the country.

Addressing the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, he said projects like the Kumasi International Airport Phase II, the Komfo Anokye Maternity and Children’s Block, the Kejetia Market Phase II and other road projects have been affected by the situation.

“Many roads have been awarded on contracts but lack of finance for Interim Payment Certificate has led to their abandonment,” he said while addressing the house on road infrastructures.

But after being battered and pressed for timelines for the various uncompleted and abandoned roads awarded to contractors, he admitted, that “all the projects boil down to finance. The money is not available and so we cannot do anything about it. I will be lying if I give a timeline for the completion of the road project”.

Security
On the security aspect of his presentation, the Minister said security has been enhanced across the region in terms of highway robbery and raids by Fulani herdsmen.

He, however, raised concerns about the spate of illegal mining.

“What stands out in terms of security is galamsey. Less than two weeks ago security men with the Forestry Commission clashed with some illegal miners in Tepa. Two died in the process. We are still investigating. Galamsey is a disturbing situation in the region.”

Health
So far, he said health facilities in Bekwai, Tepa, Konongo, and Fomena have been completed and made operational. However, he said the Sewuah and Kumawu hospitals though completed are yet to start operation.

He explained that a 20KV substation is under construction to supply electricity to Sewuah Hospital after experts detected machinery of the hospital could not be supported by the community’s transformer. He projects that it will be commissioned in the next three months.

For Afari Hospital, he noted that construction has stalled due to lack of funds but he estimates that installation of equipment will be completed in December after positive results in ongoing talks with the contractors.

On the KATH Maternity Block, he noted that civil works though completed cannot be continued any longer since the Contractor is part of the Paris Club with whom the government is seeking to restructure its external debt.

On Agenda 111 projects, he noted that six of the twelve health facilities will be completed by the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, he said seven district hospitals are under construction and will be completed for commissioning before the end of the current government’s term of office.

Additionally, he said the Atonso Agogo Hospital and Swuah Infectious Disease Centre have all been completed and are pending commission.

Roads
Touching on the Suame Interchange, he noted that the second component which is ancillary roads will be completed by January 2025 at which time the interchange itself will be 40% or 50% completed.

According to him, the ancillary road construction has begun.

Sanitation
“RCC has collaborated with Zoomlion to plant Royal Palm in medians of roads. It will beautify and help in greening the city. It is under the theme, ‘Sustainable Cleaning, Greening and Beautification of Ashanti Region’,” he told the revered House.

Under the collaboration, he said the 13 assemblies in Kumasi were given compassion trucks to collect waste. Additionally, he said median roads from Ejisu will be painted red and white as well as ceremonial streets.

He furthered that flooding has reduced drastically as a result of a directive for major drains to be desilted by all the assemblies in the region within the first four months of each year.

“KMA has instituted what it calls Holistic Reinforcement for Sustainable Development in partnership with the EU. Under this project, 124 people will receive training to sort out waste in provided trucks… They also have another project with the UDP under which people are being trained to construct household toilets.”

Judiciary
He said during the tenure of Justice Anin Yeboah, 24 court complexes with accommodations were commissioned.

According to him, there are eight more courts either completed or under construction to be commissioned later by the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Legacy projects
On legacy projects, the Minister said the region has decided to collaborate with Zipline to utilize their drone service during emergencies.

He called to mind the use of drones in the supply of BECE papers to Drobonso in Sekeyere Afram Plains this year during a flood situation, which prevented officials from transporting the papers.

On the Kumasi Airport Phase II, he said the project was 98% completed but had stalled due to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme of the government.

That notwithstanding, he said he had consulted with the Finance Minister to find some funds to complete it immediately.

When it came to the Boankra Inland Port, Hon Osei Mensah said the Chinese and Canadian embassies have shown interest in developing railway lines to link the port with a Build-Operate-Transfer payment model.

According to him, the Canadian Embassy has asked for feasibility studies while the Chinese have been asked to submit a proposal for the project for subsequent evaluation by President Akufo-Addo and the Railway Authority.

Another project he touched on was a new administrative block for the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) which is set to be completed in September 2024.