Nana Akufo-Addo has little to show—Alhaji Muntaka jabs govt over One mln dollars per constituency promise

Nana Akufo-Addo has little to show—Alhaji Muntaka jabs govt over One mln dollars per constituency promise

The Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka has alleged that the government “monumentally failed” to honour his promise of providing every constituency one million dollars per year as promised during his campaign towards the 2016 general election.

According to him, “despite getting the most resources as a government, the Akufo-Addo led administration had very little to show for its promise of one million dollars a year, per constituency.”

Speaking at the maiden edition of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) weekly press briefing on Monday in Accra, Alhaji Muntaka said the government had few things to show to Ghanaians.

He said three and half years in administration, President Akufo-Addo had only few toilet facilities, warehouses, markets mechanised water systems, ambulances and sub-standard dugouts to show in 81 out of 275 constituencies.

Alhaji Muntaka indicated that per the promise of Nana Akufo-Addo each constituency should have received US$825 by now.

“It is instructive to note that per the one million dollars every year per constituency promise of President Akufo-Addo, each constituency should have received a total of US$3 million, which leads to a total of US$825 million by now excluding that of the year 2020, or benefitted from development projects equivalent to that amount by now,” he explained.

The amount spent so far, Alhaji Muntaka stressed that it represents 9.8 per cent of the total of US$825 million that was supposed to have been released in lieu of the promise to give every constituency one million dollars every year.

“While pointing out that the amount spent so far includes the expenditure on 200 sub-standard dugouts in the northern parts of the country, the project costs have not only been inflated but also Members of Parliament have been sidelined in the choice and execution of development projects in their respective constituencies and the disbursement of funds for same,” he bemoaned.

Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance and Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, appealed to the Auditor General tha to carry out audit of public accounts to suit public interest.

Such special audits or review, he stated was necessary, stressing that the reports  of the review or audit undertaken should be submitted to parliament.

Mr Forson explained that when done  would boost public confidence in the administration and encourage more individuals and corporate organisations to support and assist the collective fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE