Sinohydro a total failure; find other means to raise revenue for roads – Minority to government

The Minority in Parliament has described the Akufo-Addo government’s flagship Sinohydro road deal as a total failure.

According to the caucus, the absence of contractors at various sites across the country bears testimony to the fact that the project, years after being approved by the House, has turned out to be a fiasco.

This was made known by the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee of the house, Governs Agbodza during the 2021 budget debate on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

He thus urged Ghanaians not to expect any roads to be constructed in their communities.

The Adaklu legislator however called on the government to be innovative in raising revenue to fund such projects.

“…nothing new is in this, many of the targets have been missed and Sinohydro is a total failure because the contractors haven’t turned up at many of the sites. Accra Innercity roads after two years are still mobilizing and same with Kumasi Innercity after two years, also mobilizing when the contract is supposed to end in 2020 December. It is a total failure.”

Meanwhile, the government had earlier assured Ghanaians that the roads under the government’s Sinohydro agreement will be completed in 2021.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and caretaker Minister for Finance, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made it known during the 2021 budget presentation.

According to him, most of the roads under phase one are at various stages of completion.

“Mr. Speaker, His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the presentation of the State of the Nation’s address declared 2021 as the second year of roads.”

“Mr. Speaker, with this declaration we will continue the prioritization of road construction. The government will continue to pursue the following ongoing projects that are at various stages of completion under the Sinohydro master facility.”

President Nana Akufo-Addo inaugurated a US$1.5 billion road infrastructure project under the Sinohydro Master Project Agreement by cutting sod for the construction of the Tamale Interchange project in April 2019.

The Master Project Support was agreed between Ghana and the Sinohydro Corporation Limited in 2018 to address major infrastructure challenges in the country and fund other infrastructure like roads, bridges, interchanges, hospitals, housing, railway development as well as rural electrification.

Months after the launch, much is yet to be seen under the overall US$2 billion deal.

Per the agreement, the Sinohydro Corporation of China will provide the infrastructure of the government’s choice in exchange for Ghana’s refined bauxite.

Though critics called for the agreement to be reviewed warning it would add to Ghana’s debt stock, the government insisted it is a barter arrangement that will not shackle the country to more debt.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews