NDC Gave Out Contract for Presidential Mansion

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, has explained that the contract for the building of a new residence for the President and his Vice was given out by the former government. Moving the motion for the approval of the budgetary allocation in Parliament last Friday, Bartels said the drawings and the contract for the building to replace the abandoned Flagstaff House was given out by the NDC government of ex-President Jerry Rawlings.

He also gave the assurance that the renovation works on the Castle that will be the Office of the President and his Vice will be transparent. Bartels who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North said the demolition of the old building that was occupied by late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has already been done and the contractor paid part of his entitlements.

According to him, the ?325,536,381,100 that has been allocated to the ministry will be used for coastal protection works in many communities from Aflao to Axim where the sea has been eroding the coastline. Additional resources, he pointed out, is also being sought for the provision of potable water to guinea worm infested communities.

Other water borne diseases to be tackled within the year include buruli ulcer and bilharzia. Answering a question, the minister pointed out that the complaints of leaking pipelines and unscrupulous deals in the water sector will be a thing of the past as plans are far advance for the privatization of the provision of water.

George Amoo (NPP-Ayawaso West Wuogon) told the minister to come out with a plan that will channel Accra's waste water that now goes into the sea for use for agricultural purposes. Francis Agbotse (NDC- Ho West), Alhaji Mohammed Abah (NDC-Chereponi) and Seidu Amadu (NDC Yapei/Kusawgu) asked the minister to critically look into the issue of counterpart funding in the provision of potable water to rural communities and allow the district assemblies to advance the money to the communities.