Minority’s attempt to arrest damning revelation blocked amidst chaos
Commotion Minority ‘heavyweight’, Alexander Afenyo-Markin left stunned as BoG Governor, Dr Johnson Asiama, dives into the fray at Parliament to shed light on the contentious West Ridge corporate headquarters in Accra.
Invited by the Majority to clear the air on the lavish office’s cost, initiated by former governor Dr Ernest Addison, tensions flared as the Effutu MP took the stand, cautioning against turning the governor into a “political pawn”.
In a bid for equilibrium, the minority leader revisited past jabs, recalling alleged lapses during Asiama’s tenure as deputy governor a decade prior.
“I remember vividly the 2015 State of the Nation Address where President Mahama raised concerns about BoG’s lax oversight,” the MP jabbed.
“Are we choosing which matters the governor briefs us on now?” The minority attempted to block Asiama’s testimony, citing procedural hurdles that briefly stalled proceedings. But after a hiatus, the Speaker resumed and greenlit Asiama’s entry.
Revelations unfolded as Asiama unveiled previous gov’t payouts of $230M to the project contractor, leaving a balance of $31.8M outstanding.
The total project cost surged to $261.8M, with $48.3M in associated taxes and levies, plus a hefty $11.1M for office furnishing.
Additional expenses mounted, encompassing network infrastructure, security systems, and furnishings, ballooning from an initial $81.8M estimate to $121.1M post-reassessment by the Public Procurement Authority.
Promoting transparency, Asiama proposed an independent audit to untangle the fiscal snarl, signalling intent to harness AESL’s expertise for a value-for-money probe.
The saga of BoG’s opulent headquarters vexes the majority side of the house, who lambasted the grandiose project amidst economic woes and pandemic turmoil. Protests and clashes mark the road to scandal, as Dr Addison mired in controversy, resists calls for resignation.
The chronicle of fiscal extravagance and political brinkmanship at the heart of Accra’s financial landscape sends shockwaves through Parliament – a saga far from over.
