It is almost becoming a trend for politicians and political party activists to wrestle over whom to credit for projects undertaken by governments in the country.
Not a day passes without netizens questioning claims made by the government and politicians on projects executed. This, if not, is becoming a norm!
One of the many projects which has sparked debates and confusion early this year is the Ho-Fume road project.
Some political activists on Facebook were angered by what they termed as lies claims by the incumbent government concerning the Ho-Fume project.
“This is what a failed, desperate,deceptive and a useless party in government does…they steal projects…” Frank Kakra Andoh posted on Facebook.
Dubawa in previous reports has sought to settle some of the confusion surrounding ‘ownership’ of some infrastructural projects in the country. These include the Pokuase interchange and the Tema Motorway projects.
We do that in this report as well. This time, the Ho-Fume road project takes the spotlight.
Blow by blow account of the project
Announcement of the rehabilitation of Ho-Fume road was made by the then Minister of Roads and transport in the John Kuffour led administration, Dr Richard Anane, in June 2005. It was part of 117 kilometer Sogakope-Ho-Dzolokpuita-Fume road selected for rehabilitation in the Volta region.
The road which had been awarded for design and reconstruction to Messrs Frandesco West African Limited in 1996 under a pre-financing agreement in two phases for bituminous surface dressing was stopped in June 2001 due to financial constraints and slow pace of work.
The project was left unattended until the Kuffour-led administration exited power in 2008.
In 2009 when the National Democratic Congress(NDC) led by late President John Atta Mills were voted into power, Mr Attah-Mills cut sod for construction of the 1st phase of the project which stretched from Ho to Vane. This time the contract was handed over to Messrs Rolider Limited, a civil engineering and construction company,
The second phase was commissioned on 5th November, 2010, to mark the beginning of construction works from Vane through Amedzofe to Fume. Unfortunately President Mills died two years after the commissioning making room for the then Vice President, John Mahama, to take over.
On March 18, 2016, Messrs Rolider Limited officially handed over Ho-Fume phase II road contract to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), pending a one-year defect liability period.
In February 2017, the project was inaugurated by Former President Mahama before handing over power to the incumbent president.
The State of the Nation Address presented to Parliament by Mr Mahama on Thursday, February 25, 2016 also captured the project.
Page 18 of the 2018 Annual Progress report again captured the project as completed.
The project was captured under ongoing projects which is 93% completed on page 32 of the summarized version of the 2021 State of the Nation Address presented by the Minister in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Member of Parliament for Suame in Ashanti-Region, Mr Kyei-Mensah Bonsu.
Conclusion
Per the above facts DUBAWA it is clear that the Ho-Fume road was completed and handed to the Ghana Highway Authority by Former President Mahama and not an ongoing project under incumbent government.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the Dubawa 2021 Kwame KariKari Fellowship partnership with MyPurefmOnline to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
