Vincent Ekow Assafuah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has revealed that several Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMCEs) in the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country are implementing borehole projects at an average cost of GH¢100,000 each, with government approval.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Oyerepa FM in Kumasi yesterday, Mr. Assafuah said the average cost of a borehole is GH¢30,000.
He said the GH¢100,000 borehole cost is part of an authorised programme by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs to expand access to clean water in various communities.
“I can confidently disclose that the Asokwa MCE and other MCEs in the Ashanti Region have been drilling boreholes costing an average of GH¢100,000,” he stated.
Mr. Assafuah, who previously served as Deputy Minister for Local Government, emphasised his familiarity with such projects and confirmed that the drilling programme has received official backing.
“Don’t forget I have been a Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development before, and I know there has been approval for the MCEs to be drilling these boreholes,” he added.
He further noted that the approval from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, issued last year, mandates all assemblies across the country to carry out borehole projects, with an estimated total expenditure exceeding GH¢1.1 billion.
However, the Asokwa MCE, Amoh Kamel, who was present during the discussion, disputed the GH¢100,000 average cost cited by Mr. Assafuah.
“Mine is not up to that amount. My own borehole cost around GH¢80,000 to GH¢90,000. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring the document covering the project here, but this is a mechanised borehole with a polytank,” he said.
The Old Tafo MP responded by suggesting that the show’s host consult an expert in borehole construction to verify costs, highlighting the variance that may exist across different projects.
By Ernest Kofi Adu