27.2 C
Accra

Agenda 111 Contracts Were Legally Awarded – Oppong Nkrumah

His comments come on critics questioning the credibility in awarding the contracts, but the Information Minister said all contracts were awarded legally because due diligence was done in awarding the contracts.

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged the public to reject claims that the government’s agenda 111 project was illegally awarded.

His comments come on critics questioning the credibility in awarding the contracts, but the Information Minister said all contracts were awarded legally because due diligence was done in awarding the contracts.

Speaking in a press briefing Sunday, September 5, 2021, he further added that claims that the contracts were inflated should be denied.

- Advertisement -

“We have noticed deliberate, politically -motivated claims of impropriety being cooked up against the project. This includes a recent claim by the MP for North Dayi that the project was illegally awarded. Government assures the public that all the contracts associated with the project were legally granted in accordance with approval from the Public Procurement Act.”

Reaction from Ghana Institute of Architects

The Ghana Institute of Architects says the government did not follow laid down procedures to award a design contract recently.

Meanwhile, the Honorary Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Augustus Richardson, has disputed this.

He said there was no open call for bids from other members of the Institute.

- Advertisement -

Ghana’s Public Procurement law allows entities to use single-source procurement under exceptional circumstances like where the goods are only available from a particular contractor, where there is an urgent need for the goods, among others.

Mr Richardson added that none of the exceptional circumstances was occasioned, adding that there were announcements for competitive bids to be sent.

Construction of Agenda 111 Hospitals

Government secured US$100 million start-up fund through the Ghana Investment Infrastructure Fund (GIIF) for the commencement of works on ‘Agenda 111’ district, specialized and regional hospitals across the country.

President Akufo-Addo performed the ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

The Project Implementation Committee chaired by Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, had secured sites and land titles for 88 out of the 101 district hospitals and each unit would cost US$17 million, covering 15 acres.

Each hospital is expected to be completed within 12 months, starting from the point of commencement.

The government’s ambitious ‘Agenda 111’ hospital projects is in line with the administration’s commitment to ensuring universal health care to all citizens and the attainment of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

While you're here, we just want to remind you of our commitment to telling the stories that matter the most.Our commitment is to our readers first before anything else.

Our Picks

GHANA MONTH PLAYLIST

INSIDE POLITICS

Get the Stories Right in Your Inbox

MORE NEWS FOR YOU