Reckless use of funds impeding Ghana’s development – PIAC

By
Abubakari Ibrahim Wangara, GNA

Funsi, (UWR), ) Oct 01, GNA – Dr Steve
Manteaw, the Chairman of Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC),
has said the vision of moving Ghana beyond aid will not be achieved if funds
allocated for development projects are not used appropriately.

Misappropriation of state funds, non-existence
of projects, non-judicious use of funds and value for money are some issues
PIAC believe impedes the development of Ghana’s economy.

The government in 2017 allocated GH¢2.2
million on physical infrastructure in the education sector but no single
project was constructed, Dr Manteaw said during a public forum organised by
PIAC in the Wa East District Capital, Funsi, in the Upper West Region.

The percentage of oil money allocated to
support development projects from 2011 to 2017, could catapult Ghana beyond aid
but several projects reported to have been executed did not exist while some
funds had also been wrongly used.

He cited Nakori and Duri dams in Upper West as
well as GH¢ 35,000,000.00 for Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) as
non-existent.

None-judicious use of funds included bus
re-branding that took away GH¢ 3,649,044.75, support for Creative Industry with
GH¢2,000,000.00 and value for money that covered overrun cost in road
constructions, construction of six-unit classroom block for GH¢14,909,744.00.

Others were power supply at Bagabaga College
of Education for GH¢4,028,245.00 and the training of 5,000 people with
disabilities in ICT for GH¢ 10,000,000.00

Dr. Manteaw disclosed that in the year 2017,
an amount of GH¢ 41,617,767.70 was allocated to go into roads, rail and other
infrastructural development, GH¢49,070,181.20 spent in the agricultural sector
and GH¢202,379,893.20 was also allocated to go into physical infrastructure and
service delivery in education.

Also, GH¢8,660,362.75 went into health service
delivery and physical infrastructure.

PIAC believes there ought to be properly
defined guidelines in the selection of the priority areas, while few legacy
projects should be identified and supported by the Annual Budgeting Funding
Amount (ABFA).

GNA

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