Ministry spent 48 million cedis on J. H. Mensah's residence

Kwamena Bartels, the out-going Minister of Works and Housing, has explained that the ministry did not spend 402 million cedis towards the renovation works on the official residence of J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Government's Economic Team as alleged by the Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin.

According to the minister, the ministry spent 48 million cedis out of the total estimate of 402 million cedis submitted by the architects- Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) because of financial constraints.

Reacting to an accusation made by the Minority Leader that the ministry spent 402 million cedis on the official residence of Mr Mensah, Bartels said although the AESL put the value of the structural works together with the replacement of furniture at 402 million cedis, the ministry ended up spending 48 million cedis to put the official residence of the former Majority Leader to shape.

The out-going Minister further explained that since the ministry could not afford to spend 402 million on the project due to its cash-strapped nature, it decided to concentrate on the painting of the building as well as electrical fitting and minor works, which amounted to 48 million cedis.

"We could not afford to have spent such a huge amount on only one bungalow. It is therefore not true that we spent 402 million cedis on Mr Mensah's bungalow," he said.

He said the actual renovation works would however be looked at when funds were available "because it is part of the maintenance culture of the government".

Mr Bartels further stated that a lot of government bungalows had been allowed to deteriorate and, therefore, a lot of money would be needed to bring them to acceptable standards, however, due to cash constraints, the ministry could not carry out the renovation of those government bungalows.

Asked whether the ministry would have gone ahead with the renovation works on the building estimated at 402 million cedis if funds were available, Mr Bartels said that "it might have been considered..”