| PAC undertakes follow-up field visit to public hearing of A-G’s Reports, 6-9, May 2008 |
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The committee also planned to verify evidences tended at the hearing process, including issues on Sakumono Coastal Protection Project and Drainage Works for three communities in Tema. The Committee during its sitting observed that contrary to policy which limits mobilization advances to 30% of the contract figure, the mobilization which was advanced to the contractor on this project was 38% (i.e. GH¢260 000) of the contract figure. The Minister explained that this was due to the urgent nature of the work and the short completion period. This is confirmed by the Auditor-General’s 2004 Report, which observed that the 600 meter sea protection contract was awarded under a certificate of emergency in April 2004 and expected to be completed in five months.The PAC outreach, from 6-9, May, 2008 revealed that eight months after the contract was awarded only 10% of work is executed. The issues are further conflated by non-compliance to Parliament’s earlier recommendations that the contract be terminated and re-awarded to a different contractor. The Chairman of the PAC, Hon. Samuel Sallas-Mensah in his response to the press at the site indicated the PAC will demand explanation from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing on its non-compliance of Parliament’s recommendation. |
After the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament public hearing of the A-G’s reports on Government Accounts for 2004 and 2005, the Committee has embarked on oversight visits to some project sites.