Samuel Okudzeto Alblakwa
It is turning out that the NDC, which initiated the SHS E-Block projects, left the one located at Agblekpui, Aflao in the Ketu-South Municipality of the Volta Region at 23 per cent.
It is rather the NPP government that has raised the whole project to 96 per cent and is almost completed for use, even though the NDC with former President John Mahama, leading the charge, has been going round the country claiming the Akufo-Addo administration has abandoned all the projects they initiated before leaving office.
Propaganda War
The whole ‘fight’ started when the Paramount Chief of Aflao, Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V, reportedly gave an ‘ultimatum’ to the NPP government to complete the project within four months, when NDC MPs on Parliament’s Education Committee visited the Aflao Paramount Chief.
The MPs were said to be touring the country to visit E-Block projects initiated by the Mahama-led NDC administration that they claimed have been abandoned since President Akufo-Addo and his NPP assumed office.
Chief’s Comment
Torgbui Amenya Fiti, meeting the NDC MPs, had said that the NPP government’s approach to education was appalling.
“The next place for revenue generation after the Tema Harbour is the Aflao border. So I had to push former President, John Mahama, to put up that structure. I had to be running from here to Accra, begging. Should we be begging for education? If we have to beg for education before people can go to school, then I don’t know what we call democracy at all. Look at the structure, it’s almost 90 per cent complete. The thieves are having a field day, going in there to have everything removed at will,” he reportedly said.
“The NPP government now has free SHS education, but my people are not benefitting because there is no school here. So I am giving the Education Minister up till February (2022) for the school to be completed,” he added.
Nana’s Reply
The President remarked on Peace FM, in Accra, on Thursday after hearing about the supposed ultimatum, saying that the chief could go ahead and complete the project, a comment which attracted spontaneous laughter in the studio where he was being interviewed, showing it could have been a jovial expression by the President.
“Many of the E-Blocks are being worked on across the country,” the President had said, and added that “is he the one to give the minister ultimatum? Then he should go ahead and complete the project.”
Propaganda Investment
The opposition NDC has been firing since the President responded to the Aflao chief’s ultimatum to the Education Minister to complete the project by February next year.
Even though the chief himself is not on record to have reacted to what the President said, the NDC started making political investment hiding behind some elements to even go on demonstration against the President.
NDC MPs and leading figures are all over the place trying to incite people from the Volta Region to rise up against other ethnic groupings, particularly the Akyems where the President belongs, and even extended it to the Ashantis, who are not even involved in the brouhaha which some have viewed as friendly banter.
NDC MPs like Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of North Tongu, Dzifa Abla Gomashie of Ketu South where the school is located, Kofi Adams of Buem, and Governs Kwame Agbodza of Adaklu have all been firing at the President.
Leading their propaganda outfit are Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Sammy Gyamfi and a host of others.
Their other wings are also all over social media promoting veiled attacks on Akan chiefs over what is supposed to be a jovial comment.
Project Scope
The project scope, believed to be around GH¢9 million, has 26 classrooms, five departments, and a science block.
A brief report on the progress of work as put out by veteran journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr., showed “the Ministry of Education awarded the Contract to Messrs. Globacom Limited in 2015 to construct No. 4 – Storey 24 – Unit Classroom Block with Science Laboratories and Toilet Facilities (E-Block) and Ancillary External Works at a Contract Sum of GH¢8,030,372.15.”
“The site was handed over to the contractor for works to commence on July 14, 2015 for completion on October 14, 2016. The Construction Supervision Consultant is Lamda Consult Limited.”
Status of Work
Currently, according to the report, “the project is about 96% complete. The outstanding works include final painting and clearing of site.”
Per the summary of payments, the contractor submitted IPC No. 1 on July 22, 2016 for 12% work done, submitted IPC No. 2 on August 3, 2016 for 16% work done, submitted IPC No. 3 on October 18, 2016 for 23.47%, submitted IPC No. 4 on June 5, 2017 for 33.6% and IPC No. 5 on September 25, 2018 for 45% work done.
They also submitted IPC No. 6 on May 4, 2019 for 78% and the Consultant raised IPC No. 7 in the sum of GH¢24,294.87 on August 31, 2021, according to the report, adding “the Contractor did not accept the IPC No. 7 and has raised a protest to the Consultant which borders on capped fluctuations and payment of interest on delayed payment. The issue is being resolved between the Contractor and the Consultant.”
Education Ministry
The report said “the Ministry of Education is working with the Contractor and the Consultant to resolve the issues around IPC No. 7. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to complete the outstanding works and hand over the project to the Client for operationalisation.”
The veteran journalist later commented that “As indicated, completion percentage now is 96%. The trajectory of commencement, construction and completion (the 3 Cs) clearly shows that the claim of ABANDONEMENT is UNSUSTAINABLE in this context. Those who challenge this assertion could provide evidence of the issuance of IPCs by the Consultant to contradict this conclusion and vindicate their assertion!”
By Ernest Kofi Adu