The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), seen as the development agent for the residents of Kumasi, has reportedly abandoned six major projects over the years initiated under the past and present administrations.
It is evident that the KMA awarded six projects at the cost of GH¢619,153.32, but failed to ensure that they were completed on schedule. The projects were to be funded from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and Internally Generated Fund (IGF).
The KMA is said to have paid a total of GH¢193,826.88 to the contactors, leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢425,326.44.
The neglect and non-completion of the said projects were captured in 2020 Audit Report of the KMA. The said projects and the contractors are the construction of a six-unit classroom block, with ancillary facilities, at the Danyame M/A Basic School (Dream Side Construction); Construction of first phase (ground floor) of two-storey Library complex at State Experimental School at Ridge Nhyiaeso by Asbeck Works Construction Limited); construction of six-unit classroom block for State Experimental Basic School (Vebpo Company Limited), and the construction of six-unit classroom block for Santasi M/A (Yaw Zua Limited).
The rest are the construction of six-unit classroom block for Adumanu M/A School (Dot Sanni Divine Company Limited), and the construction of a six-unit classroom block for Abrepo M/A JHS at Abrepo (W & E Company Limited).
The Audit Report said the non-completion of the six projects, which were at various stages of completion, could result in cost overruns due to avoidable variation from price fluctuations, and thus affect other developmental projects.
According to the report, the KMA management had also not seen to the completion of a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Fankyenebra Basic School on the scheduled date for completion.
The report said the project, awarded to Gomens Company Limited on September 30, 2020, was to be completed in six months (March 29, 2021) after GH¢178,590.00 had been paid to the contractor.
Even though the audit report covered the period between January and December 2020, visits to the project sites by The Chronicle last month indicated that they had been abandoned for years.
At the Danyame MA Basic Primary School, Mr. Michael Danso Agyei, Headteacher of the school, confided in The Chronicle that the project had been abandoned since 2013.
At the State Experimental School, a teacher (name withheld) said the foundation of the project had been as it was currently since he was posted to the school years back.
