General News of Saturday, 5 February 2011

Source: Faisal Ibrahim

Leave NPP Projects To Rot- Dr. Tony Aidoo

The Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Presidency, Dr. Tony Aidoo has advised the ruling NDC government to leave projects and programs started by the erstwhile NPP government to rot. The shocking statement was made on Saturday, 31st January, 2011 on the pro-government radio station’s Alhaji & Alhaji program hosted by Alhassan Suhuyini.

This advice comes at a time the Times Newspaper reports of an almost completed but abandoned affordable housing project at Asokore-Mampong in Ashanti Region. According to the story, the project has been taken over by squatters who “have occupied portion of the uncompleted buildings after the various contractors had abandoned work for non-payment of jobs done”. “Early settlers have turned themselves into landlords charging new comers between GH¢15 and GH¢20 for single room and GH¢100 for two and three bedroom apartment with hall toilet, bath and kitchen” When the Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Alban Gbagbin, was contacted, he said he new about the almost completed project. He said the project would require GHC 100 million to complete, and that plans are still far advance to secure the amount even though a 10 billion not0affordable housing project has just kicked off.

Dr. Aidoo argues that, the NDC government has spent its two years in office continuing the projects started by the erstwhile NPP administration, and it was time they abandoned what he terms “NPP projects and programs” to rot. He said the NDC must start new programs and projects as contained in their 2008 manifesto or they risk losing the 2012 elections.