Minority and Majority Members of Parliament ‘knocked’ each other on the floor of Parliament over the abandoned Tamale-Walewale road project.
Minister for Road and Highways Governs Kwame Agbodza in answering an urgent question from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga disclosed the state is chasing the company awarded the Savelugu-Walewale stretch of the Tamale-Walewale road contract under the Nana Addo administration.
The contractor after pocketing almost $30 million with only 1% of work done abandoned the project in 2022. According to the minister the contractor Halapatura Projects International Limited GMC from India pulled out of the project immediately after receiving payment and has subsequently made a claim of an additional payment of $14 million.
The Adaklu MP further revealed the Attorney-General is exploring legal options of either getting the contractor who is trying to move his machinery imported with tax waivers out of the country to either return to site or refund the money.
Proceedings were however not smooth with the minority MPs questioning the motive behind the attempt to bring in the name of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who cut sod for the project into the discussion.
Former minister of State at the finance Ministry Mrs. Abena Osei Asare and former minister for Defence Dominic Nitiwul vehemently opposed such attempts. They questioned the relevance of mentioning the involvement of the former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
First deputy speaker Bernard Ahiafor who was presiding however overruled the objections allowing the Roads minister to mention that the sod for the project was cut by former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. According to Mr. Agbodza Dr. Bawumia had assured the project would continue despite the fact that the contractor had pulled out.
The minister however assured that the abandoned road project will be considered under government’s Big Push Agenda.
