By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, July 9, GNA – A total of 28 projects from the 14 district assemblies in the Western Region with a combined contract value of 24.16 million cedis have been reviewed by the CoST Independent Review process by the Sekondi-Takoradi foundation.
The projects were reviewed through CoST instruments of proactive and reactive disclosure using the COST’s Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standards, procurement governance and institutional systems, quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms, sustainability and climate resilience and integrity risks associated with Infrastructure planning and budgeting.
Professor Matthew Kwaw Somiah, the lead researcher on the Independent Review Process told participants at the Launch and dissemination of the Report, that the review was to strengthen integrity, transparency and public trust in Infrastructure investments.
He said 11 water Infrastructure projects were also subjected to a more detailed integrity risk assessment using the framework for integrity in Infrastructure planning.
Professor Somiah said assessment of proactive publications revealed a general weakness in institutional transparency across the assemblies.
Overall proactive completeness rate stood at 32.59 per cent, while the overall accuracy stood at 29.91 per cent.
Meanwhile, the overall average reactive disclosure score across the assemblies was relatively high at 22 out of the 27 required data points but response time remained significantly weak.
The findings indicated that although some Infrastructure information was publicly available, publications remained fragmented, inconsistent, incomplete and weakly institutionalised.
Critical infrastructure information relating to project implementation, quality assurance, variations, environmental considerations and project completion were either partially disclosed or not disclosed at all.
He indicated that response time within the Right to Information Act was sharply abused by the procuring assemblies and praised Shama, Nzema East and Wassa East District for duly complying to the 14days.
The review identified that project phases were inconsistently referenced, project titles deferred across procurement and reporting documents whiles description also omitted critical project scope information.
Most frequently missed document under reactive data points were project design reports, quality assurance, variations, contract amendments and changes and implementation documentation.
Professor Somiah said, “The review found low levels of both completeness and accuracy across participating entities “.
Some district assemblies were rated high on leadership commitment, culture of transparency and institutional corporation of CoST publications requirements within internal reporting systems.
The 28 reviewed projects recorded 1.69million cedis contingency provision: 692,411 cedis were accounted for, while 999, 045 cedis were unaccounted for.
Professor Somiah said that undocumented contingency expenditures, delayed payments, incomplete project closure and weak financial controls could be primary risks to infrastructure delivery performance.
Also, the review discovered that monitoring by the assemblies focused on progress and not quality, no testing materials for independent quality verification by the assemblies, insufficient monitoring vehicles as well as the lack of critical testing tools and equipment.
Meanwhile, stakeholder documentation recorded weak scores in terms of feedback tracking, participatory monitoring and consultation records.
Furthermore, infrastructure planning remains focused on immediate service delivery, with limited integration of evidence-based planning, climate resilience, sustainability, inclusion and long-term asset management.
Professor Somiah recommended time bound actions to improve economy, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, integrity, quality and sustainability of infrastructure delivery.
Mr Tanko Aminu, the Zonal Coordinator of the Public Procurement Authority was moved by the details of the report and pledged a stronger collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council to strengthen the contract administration.
Nana Egya Kwamina XI, Chief of Apremdo, called for punitive measures for contractors who undertake shoddy jobs to save the country’s purse.
Mr. Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister whose speech was read on his behalf was grateful to the CoST project for enhancing quality infrastructure that created lasting values for the Ghanaian.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter Mildred Siabi-Mensah
[email protected]