The Minority in Parliament has stated that the cost components of the Sinohydro deal by the government was, "over bloated" and has, therefore, called for a reduction in the cost.
It said the cost for components like the project office, photographs, client services, among others, were "outrageous" and a "rip off."
The Minority Members of Parliament (MPs), led by the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, were making contributions during the consideration of a commercial agreement resolution for the US$646,637,879 facility in Parliament yesterday.
Parliament last Wednesday passed a resolution for the release of the first tranche of US$646,637,879 of the expected US$2 billion facility from Sinohydro Corporation Limited of China for the rehabilitation and construction of some roads in the country.
The projects, expected under the facility, include Accra and Kumasi inner city roads, Tamale interchange, Takoradi PTC roundabout interchange, and Adenta-Dodowa dual carriageway. The rest are Sunyani and Cape Coast inner city roads, upgrading of selected roads in Ashanti and Western regions, rehabilitation of the Oda-Ofoase-Abirem road and Hohoe-Jasikan-Dodi Pepesu road.
Reductions
Some of the components the Minority wanted reduced included a US$7000,000 client service on the Ofoase project which involves over US$600,000 for the preparation of the project site.
Mr Agbodza, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Adaklu, also claimed that about US$30,000 had been earmarked for progress photographs on the project.
He said the memoranda stating out the terms and conditions of the facility had no legal opinion of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice; neither did it have a financial impact assessment from the Finance Minister as required by law.
Besides, Mr Agbodza said the projects, under the facility, had no value for money audit and were without Public Procurement Authority approval.
He stated that the Minority were not against the facelift of Ghana's roads but that they were duty-bound to ensure that the best deal was secured for the country.
Majority's rebuttal
In a rebuttal, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Ejisu and a Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, justified the cost of the components.
He said the US$600,000 included securing a land to host the project offices, and indicated that the acquisition of land was expensive.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi added that the site project included a laboratory for testing of the soil and other construction materials that would match the soil texture.
He dismissed the suggestion by the Minority MPs that the transfer of technology component was needless since the asphalt technology to be deployed by the Sinohydro group was special.
Source: Daily Graphic
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How politics has recline our sense of reasoning........can't Ghanaians be objective once in their lives. Because NDC inflated the prices for contracts, some human beings here who call themselves Ghanaians are happy NPP is also doing same, giving their full support to government for perpetrating this heinous crime against the poor tax payer. Rational human beings here are insulting people for raising red flags. These politicians are really milking the nation of its scarce resources. Instead of insulting people, you better start thinking straight and be a Ghanaian first.
WHY THESE NATION WRECKERS WONT RAISE RED FLAGS IF THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL GHANAIANS ? THEY PREFER HANDING IT ALL OVER TO IBRAHIM MAHAMA TO FUND THEIR BO GUS PARTY
Why are you buying land for a temporary project when you can lease it and photographs to that cost. Please be realistic in your calculations. Ghanaians need it at a better price. Do not compare it to the outrage NDC prices and think you are doing us some good.
skin pain will kill these incompetent bunch of ***barred word*** in opposition
'Minority Raises Red Flags Over Sinohydro Deal'. Nation wreckers. NDC onlt thinks about Ghana in opposition. Put in a wrong way. NDC, NEVER again!
Which land are u talking about Mr minister? is the government buying the land for the project site? $600,000? Eii this guys. Well the NDC knows how they do these things to rip us so I believed them when they raise these red flags after all they just left power I hope Ghanaians listen.
See the idyiots oooo. Stzzupid MPs who steial always think others are thie..ves also
These same NDC thi.eves raised no red flags when they were taking double salary and double ex-gratia, bus branding, GYEDA, SADA..... Thunder will strike you guys one by one.... Those who will survive will remain in opposition forever.
GHANA PAAAA DE3.THEY HAVEN'T BEEN JAIL TILL NOW THATS WHY THEY HAVE LOUD MOUTH.
WELL DONE NDC FOR THESE POINTS. SO DID THE NDC KNOW ALL THESE THINGS AND DID NOT CONSIDER GHANAIANS TAX MONEY WHEN THERE WERE GIVING OUT FATTY MONEY-CONTRACTS FOR LOCAL CONTRACTORS MOST EXPERIMENTALLY ON THE COCOA ROADS? EVEN THE DAY NDC LOST ELECTION ON 2016, STILL GIVING OUT CONTRACTS. HMMM