By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Mar 05, GNA – Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has lauded the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, for being honest and sincere with cost components of the new Corporate Head Office of the Central Bank.
The Minority Leader’s comments followed a presentation made by Dr Asiama to Parliament on Wednesday regarding the total contract sum of the project.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said, “We must not play political football with everything”.
He suggested that the Speaker of Parliament in the future should set up a bi-partisan committee involving experts to probe into projects of a similar nature “so that we don’t expose our ignorance to the public”.
The Minority Leader also supported the call for a value for money audit into the BoG building to erase any erroneous impression of misappropriation of funds by the previous management of the Central Bank.
On his part, Mr Ayariga Mahama, the Majority Leader, also thanked the Central Bank Governor for coming to the House to apprise members of Parliament on the various cost components of the project.
Mr Ayariga indicated that he had been involved in ensuring transparency and accountability regarding the cost of the construction of the BoG building.
He believed that after the value for money audit had been conducted into the project, the Central Bank Governor would come back to the House to brief them.
Earlier in his presentation, Dr Johnson Asiama announced that $261.8 million was the total cost of the new Corporate Head Office of the BoG located at Ridge, Accra.
He said as of February, this year, $230 million had been paid by the Government and left with $31.8 million outstanding payment to be made.
Dr Asiama said the initial contract sum of the project was $81.8 million in 2019 but subsequently revised to $121.1 million, $222.8 million and finally shot up to $261.8 million at the time of completion in 2024.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the facility in November 2024 and currently being occupied by the staff of the Central Bank.
Dr Asiama stated that the Board of the BoG would conduct a value for money audit into the construction of the facility upon being sworn in next week.
The Governor of the GoG said the project was constructed by the Goldkey Properties Limited through a restricted tender process recommended by the Public Procurement Authority
He said the structural integrity audit conducted in 2019 showed that existing BoG headquarters in Accra Central, which was constructed in 1950s was not fit for purpose, hence the decision to build a new facility to enhance security and operational efficiency.
The 20-floor tower BoG headquarters was 98 per cent complete including auxiliary facilities- Electronic Integrated System, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system, auditorium, liquid and solid waste treatment facility, basement and car park area.
Dr Asiama said the Central Bank would comply with its mandate of ensuring transparency, financial resilience and economic growth.
GNA