In a bid to shed further light on the ongoing controversy surrounding the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) new head office, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has unveiled a set of recently published documents.
These documents encompass correspondences exchanged between the Ministry of Finance and the central bank, delving into critical aspects including variations in project cost.
Among the recently disclosed records, the most recent letter is dated January 17, 2023, authored by the Central Tender Review Committee (CTRC) of the Ministry of Finance.
This communication echoes concerns raised in prior exchanges, highlighting that the BoG’s responses had not satisfactorily addressed the issues presented.
The CTRC also provided counsel to the central bank, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the current designs to avert substantial cost variations in future procurement processes.
Within the correspondence, the CTRC indicated that the revised scope of work had been established at US$222,760.55. Notably, this figure does not encompass the expenses related to the land acquisition for the project, an aspect that Ablakwa hinted had its own set of contentious issues.
Ablakwa’s revelations go beyond mere numbers, aiming to challenge certain assertions surrounding the escalating costs of the BoG head office project.
He rebuffs claims that these elevated expenses are primarily attributed to general inflation and increasing building material costs. He cites the Central Tender Review Committee’s insights as debunking such narratives.
In his comprehensive post, Ablakwa addresses the complexity of the situation, hinting at an impending focus on the cost and acquisition of the land itself.
By unveiling these documents, he seeks to further transparency and deepen the discourse around the project, which has sparked significant public interest and debate.
The exposure of these correspondences adds to the evolving narrative, as stakeholders continue to scrutinize the financial intricacies of the Bank of Ghana’s new head office.
Read Ablakwa’s full post below:
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