Former Co-ordinating Director explains erection of
Busia’s statue
Accra, Aug 4, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr.
Francis Opoku Boateng, former Brong-Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating
Director on Tuesday told the three-member Presidential
Enquiry Commission on Ghana @ 50 celebrations that the
erection of the statue of Dr. K.A. Busia in Sunyani as part
of the event was influenced by the political leadership at
the time.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) used
proceeds from the anniversary souvenirs to defray the cost
of the monument which was not initially budgeted for.
Mr. Boateng disclosed this when he was asked to explain why
the region constructed the monument which was not originally
part of the budget the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat presented to
the RCC.
He said the region received GH¢760, 000.00 out of which GH¢400,
000.00 was to be used for the construction of a Jubilee park
and the renovation of some projects towards the celebration.
The former Co-ordinating Director said the region was also
given a total of GH¢ 510,000.00 out of which each of the 19
Municipal and the District assemblies were given GH¢10,
000.00 leaving GH¢20, 000.00 for the RCC.
He admitted that the district assemblies owed Ghana @ 50
Secretariat since they have not finished paying for the
anniversary cloths allocated to them.
Mr. Boateng said the RCC used part of the Ghana @ 50 money
to run the office as a result of pressure on the limited
resources.
Mr. Robert Wise Awenyawu, an Engineer at the Public Works
Department (PWD) Prestige, said his outfit received GH¢ 232,
649.72 for the construction and renovation of projects
around the Cenotaph and the Independence square.
He said the PWD had to sub-let all the projects in order to
meet the deadline provided by the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat.
Mr Awenyawu was asked why his outfit which was given the
projects based on competence had to sub-let them to other
contractors.
Mr. Egbert Faibille, Counsel for Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, former
Chief of Staff in a cross-examination disagreed with the PWD
for demanding payments for labour when it was a subvented
organisation.
He also questioned why PWD had to bid for the projects if it
had no capacity to execute them.
GNA
