The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region is accusing Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu of sanctioning the payment of about US$11.9 million to a Chinese contractor for no work done on the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam to which it was awarded.
Regional Communication Officer of the party Abdallah Jonathan Salifu said Dr. Bawumia is the Head of Economic Management and must have approved for such payment to be made.
He also claimed the Controller and Accountant Department mentioned the Vice-President as the one who ordered the payment to be done.
“According to the Controller and Accountant General, they say it is Bawumia who instructed that it should be paid. They mentioned his name in the video. He is the head of the economic management team,” he stated.
“The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the Finance Minister, the Controller and Accountant-General, all of them are under him. When they go to sit and discuss about the finances of this country, he is the chair”.
Findings of the 20224 Auditor-General report reveal that about $11.9 million was disbursed as “final payment” for the Pwalugu Irrigation Project.
This came to light at the Public Accounts Committee sitting on April 9, 2024 when the committee sought to find out from the Bank of Ghana, which effected the payment, the basis for such expenditure since no work has been done at the project site.
The revelation has since sparked public concern over the appropriateness of the payment.
Reiterating the NDC’s position on the matter in an interview on Breakfast Today on Dreamz FM, Abdallah Jonathan wondered how such payments could be made without ascertaining whether work had been done to warrant it.
He believes the project, which was initiated to alleviate poverty in the Northern part of the country, has become a conduit for siphoning state resources.
