An audit report released by the Auditor-General on the utilization of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), has revealed that abandoned and delayed projects cost Ghana GHS35.4 million in 2020.
The figure is part of a total of GHS45.69 million in contract irregularities perpetrated by several Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Despite these flaws, the Auditor-office General’s found that MMDAs continued to award new projects even when older ones were not completed.
As a result of the non-payment of work certificates, work was suspended.
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District assemblies involved include the North Gonja District Assembly. The assembly spent GHS370,270.24 on four projects awarded in 2016 but have been abandoned at various stages of completion.
Others include, Sefwi Akontombra District assembly and the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal.
Poorly constructed projects also cost the country GHS508,967.
The report further noted that “payments were made for unexecuted contracts, unjustified contingencies and shoddy works,”
The Auditor-department General’s recommended that local assemblies prioritize the completion of ongoing projects before starting new ones as part of the suggestion.
It was also recommended that flaws on completed projects be rectified and that additional facilities be provided so that such amenities might be used to avoid additional expenses due to degradation.
“We further recommended recovery for payments for unexecuted contracts, unjustified contingencies from the Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Finance Officers and Works Engineers,” the report added.
