The Member of Parliament for Kintampo North Constituency, Kwasi Etu-Bonde, has called on the NPP government led by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo to clear the controversies surrounding the 1 Village 1 Dam initiative.
Speaking to the Morning Show Host, Austin Ofori Addo of Rite Fm, he said “This government should come out boldly and tell us the truth on exactly how our money is being spent on the 1 Village, 1 Dam initiative. We are bound to make mistakes as human beings; all we need is the truth”.
According to him, the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, Hawa Koomson is a potential candidate for prosecution in the future for awarding contracts to uncertified contractors who have no expertise in irrigation dam construction, engaging in shoddy works at the expense of the taxpayers’ money. He therefore described that the dams under construction as a ‘waste of state resources’ championed by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
“I am not a prophet of doom but mark my words that there will be no water in the dams during the dry season for which the dams are being constructed to help farmers especially in the North,” he predicted.
He however explained that the said small-scale irrigation dams are rather excavated ponds and dugouts, thus a real small-scale irrigation dam cannot cost Ghc 256,000 as compared to a similar dam being constructed by JICA at the cost of Ghs2.4 million each.
“Also as a matter of fact the Minister for Special Development Initiatives should be held responsible for causing financial loss to the state,” he added.
His submission comes after Mavis Hawa Koomson’s comments of not constructing a meaningful dam due to the budget allocated to her Ministry.
By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org/austinofori.addo@gmail.com
