NPP smells corruption in road, school contracts; demands probe

Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie         The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding a probe into some road and school building contracts awarded since coming into office of the Mills-administration. It alleged that 90 per cent of the contracts were awarded without tender. General Secretary of the party, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, said the president must institute the probe if he is serious about fighting corruption. He said while a six-class-room block cost an average of GH¢80,000 under president John Kufuor, the Mills government was spending such outrageous amounts as GH¢261,000 on similar projects. The huge disparities and inexplicable jump in contract sums, Mr Afriyie said, raises not only questions but also concerns about the seriousness of the government in cutting profligate spending and ensuring that the nation gets value for money. “We demand to know why in spite of the alleged inflationary downward trend, the cost of building a six-unit classroom block has shot up from GH¢80,000 to GH¢261,000,” he said. Source: Joy News/Ghana