Aviation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah has rubbished former President Mahama’s claims that the NPP government is “plagiarizing” projects he commissioned while in office.
The former President at the NDC’s Unity Walk in Aflao in the Volta Region over the weekend said the government was re-commissioning projects that he had already commissioned.
“…you know the most shocking, they are also cutting sod again for projects that we have cut sod for already. Kumasi airport phase 2, we got the loan $65 million, we sent it to Parliament, parliament approved it. On December 6, 2016, I was asked to go cut sod for the project, when I went to the site, the contractor had started working, he had taken control of the site, he had cleared the place and started working. And I broke the ground for the commencement of work.”
“Let me give you examples, and that is the pettiness of the NPP. They cannot even give credit where it is due. What does it take away from you if you give credit? President Rawlings carried out the feasibility study for the Bui Dam project, President Kufuor came and found the money and started the project. When president Mills came the money wasn’t enough so he went to China and got additional money to continue, the project was finally finished under president Mahama,”the former President argued.
[contextly_sidebar id=”vqPhh4k3QTIZJzV08F7PBYbnQYSVfrj0″]His comments came days after President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction works to begin on the Airport.
The Minister in a rebuttal, however said the former President had no right to raise these concerns since the NDC totally abandoned the project after cutting sod for the construction.
She pointed out that the NDC administration in a bid to score political points cut the sod for the construction of some projects only two days to the election.
“I must say I do not see the beef of the former President. I know, and it is a fact that we were the ones who came in to sign the financial agreement on the 29th of December, 2017, and the loan became operational in April 2018, hence the cutting of the sod in June. I do not see his beef. If he cut the sod two days to election, that is his side. He is rather being petty. I am sorry! This is not about pettiness on our part. It is rather on his part. I do not see why he should go and cut the sod two days to election to deceive the people of Ashanti Region.”
‘Plagiarized projects.’
Responding to the Minister’s claims, NDC Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Kwame Abgbodza, confirmed that the NDC had commissioned the project and secured the loan for its completion.
He was however quick to add that work on the project was suspended in 2017 after the government asked contractors to suspend work for a review.
He stated that it was therefore shameful for the President to cut the sod for a project that had already been commissioned.
“It is completely disgraceful for the President to cut a sod for an already existing project. There is no need for this government to claim ownership of such a project.”
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By: Marian Ansah/citinewsroom.com/Ghana