Former Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare, has urged the government to make the completion of stalled public infrastructure projects a top priority.

He argued that doing so would deliver greater benefits to Ghanaians than leaving them abandoned while resources are spent elsewhere.

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Speaking on Joy FM on July 24, 2026, during discussions on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, the lawmaker said the country's limited resources should be directed at bringing existing projects to completion instead of allowing them to deteriorate.

She said findings contained in the Auditor-General's 2024 Report paint a worrying picture of the number of abandoned projects, particularly within the district assemblies, stressing that the situation continues to undermine value for public expenditure.

“I have seen that capex. There are a lot of abandoned projects in the district assemblies alone,” she said.

According to her, contract irregularities linked to abandoned and uncompleted projects ranked among the most significant issues identified in the report, with affected projects valued at GH¢189 million.

“One of the huge infractions that we saw in 2024 was contract irregularities, and that had to do with abandoned projects and uncompleted projects to the tune of GH¢189 million,” she added.

The Atiwa East MP argued that completing such projects would immediately improve infrastructure delivery while ensuring taxpayers receive value for money.

“If you are spending, spend to complete these abandoned projects because that alone, if you should take that infraction from the huge infractions that the Auditor-General spoke about in the end-of-year 2024 report, would do this country a lot of good,” Osei-Asare stated.

Abena Osei-Asare also questioned the government's expenditure pattern outlined in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, suggesting that capital investment had been overshadowed by higher spending on arrears.

She noted that although GH¢21 billion had been earmarked for capital expenditure, only GH¢14 billion was spent, while expenditure on arrears rose significantly beyond the amount approved by Parliament.

“When you have capex of GH¢21 billion, and you end up spending GH¢14 billion, but rather you have arrears of GH¢14 billion, and you end up spending GH¢29 billion, that is where I say that you are not spending in the right places,” she stated.

She maintained that redirecting public funds towards completing unfinished projects would stimulate development, improve service delivery and produce tangible benefits for communities across the country.

“Spend in the right places and then the effects will be felt by all and sundry,” she said.

NA/VPO