Former Deputy Minister Calls for accountability and judicious use of State resources  

Mr Abu Kansangbata,a former Deputy Upper West Regional Minister has urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to deal decisively with individuals mismanaging state resources at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.  

He said political party members mobilising to stage protests or picket at the premises of EOCO and OSP should not deter the institutions from carrying out their work professionally and independently.  

In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr Kansangbata said as a democratic nation for almost three decades, Ghana possessed abundant resources that, if properly managed, could drive national development and create sustainable jobs for the youth, thereby reducing unemployment.  

He appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that his government implemented the comprehensive ORAL report without political interference.  

According to him, individuals found culpable by competent courts of jurisdiction must be punished to serve as a deterrent to current and future appointees, ensuring state resources are utilised to improve the living standards of all Ghanaians.   

Mr Kansangbata also called for urgent investigation into the procurement of tricycle motorbikes by the Northern Development Authority (NDA), and funds disbursed for the Kparigu irrigation dam project and related visibility studies.   

These funds, he said, were advanced to sensitise community members on cultural and environmental resettlement to facilitate major hydro and agricultural construction projects in the northern part of Ghana.  

He highlighted added that the dam was a significant promise made by government to the people of the Upper East and Savannah Regions, intended to develop large-scale irrigation and hydroelectric systems to transform the region’s economy. However, the recent parliamentary committee report revealed that government paid $11.9 million for no work done under the previous administration, describing it as cruel and insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.  

The report indicated that this payment was made to M/S PowerChina International Group Limited as part of over $117 million paid to contractors undertaking various projects in 2022, with the $11.9 million captured as the final payment for the Pwalugu Irrigation Project despite no work being done.  

Mr Kansangbata hinted that there would be demonstrations across the three regions to demand transparency and accountability for the chiefs and people of northern Ghana.   

He appealed to EOCO and OSP to extend investigations into the downstream petroleum sector to ensure all funds were accounted for and used for national development.