The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the significant cost escalation of the Flower Pot Interchange project in Accra.
Initially awarded in November 2016 for GH¢69.5 million, the project’s cost was revised to GH¢147 million in 2017 and now nears GH¢1 billion.
Minority Chief Whip and Adaklu MP, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has questioned the rationale behind the steep increase, suggesting the government owes the public a detailed explanation. He called for transparency regarding the factors contributing to the escalation.
“Unless the scope has completely changed, it doesn’t make sense for the cost to double or more,” Mr. Agbodza said in an interview on on Tuesday, November 19.
“Is it the 150 meters added that is changing the cost from GH¢69 million to currently GH¢700 million? Is it the cost of exchange rates and materials? Somebody must explain these things.
“This is at a time when President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, when in opposition in 2016, turned themselves into political quantity surveyors, knowing the price of everything and complaining about the price of the Kasoa Interchange. They must come out to explain how a GH¢69 million project has turned into almost GH¢1 billion at the time of completion,” he said.
Mr. Agbodza urged the government to address these concerns during the project’s commissioning, emphasizing the need for accountability on potential future cost variations as the project nears completion.
“What is a bit surprising to me is the level of unexplained variation. In September this year, four variation orders changed the project to almost GH¢700 million.
“If you listen to the Director of Urban Roads, the project is not yet fully done, so the point is, if it is GH¢700 million now, what exactly is it going to be at the final cost of construction?” he asked.
