The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, is demanding for the immediate withdrawal and unqualified apology from the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) for publishing a false report in which the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly was accused of paying for non-existing market project.
Interacting with journalists in Accra on Thursday, March 3, 2022, over the PIAC report, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri constituency explained that the Assembly had originally earmarked the construction of three market projects at Nsawam, Nsumia and OtuKwadwo.
The three projects (3no sheds, each with 24-unit stalls totaling 72 stalls in all), he noted, were to be funded by the Ministry of Special Development Initiative, having personally, submitted a proposal for consideration which was subsequently approved.
However, following the award of the contract to IPC by the Municipal Assembly, the contractor was faced with a challenge regarding where to site the OtuKwadwo and Nsumia markets.
In order to utilize the opportunity the Ministry of Special Development Initiative has given them, he directed for the commencement of the market project at Nsawam while the Assembly continues with its search for locations for the proposed Nsumia and OtuKwadwo markets.
After failing to secure lands for the construction of markets for Nsumia and OtuKwadwo communities, the Assembly suspended its plans and focused on completing that of the Nsawam market project which have two No. sheds, lockable storage room and water systems amounting to GH₵623,223.10.
Two years down the line after the project had been handed over and commissioned, PIAC is accusing the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly for paying for a project which does not exist.
“PIAC said they the Assembly had earmarked the construction of a market at OtuKwadwo and made payments for same yet the project was never constructed. So, when my attention was draw to it, I cross-checked from the Assembly and was told that the project was Nsawam was constructed and monies paid. We built two sheds and each of the shed had 24 cubicles. So, we have 48 cubicles constructed and I am told a certificate was raised and some GH6223,000 has been paid for work done”, he explained.
He added “OtuKwadwo never was built obviously because we could not agree on a venue for the market. So, the PIAC report is quite mischievous and I do not know why they will not do their cross-checking before they come to the public. So, I demand of PIAC that they should come out and do the correction and render an unqualified apology for the pain they’ve caused for the Assembly. They should withdraw this report quickly and render unqualified apology. The Nsawam-Adoagyire Municipal Assembly is very diligent and they will not condone with any act of corruption or attempt to engage in any underhand dealings as a way of syphoning resources from the state”.
