The Member of Parliament for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira, Kofi Arko Nokoe, has questioned the Minister of Energy and Green Transition over delays in the completion of a gas re-bottling plant intended to serve his constituency.

The issue was raised in Parliament on Monday, March 16, as the legislator sought clarity on the timeline for completing the project and making it operational.

Nokoe expressed concern about the slow pace of work on the facility, stressing that its completion is crucial for improving access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and supporting economic activities in the area.

In response, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, explained that the LPG bottling plant, located at Axim in the Western Region, is being implemented as an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project under the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme on behalf of Ghana Gas.

He disclosed that the project, valued at approximately $24.7 million, was awarded on October 19, 2021, with construction beginning on July 13, 2022, and originally scheduled for completion in July 2024.

However, he noted that the project remains incomplete despite about $8 million having been spent, with overall progress estimated at around 20 per cent.

"The Minister, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor's response.

"Mr Speaker, the LPG bottling plant at Axim in the Ellembelle Ajomoro of the Western Region is an EPC project being implemented by a company whose name is in the Hansard on behalf of Ghana Gas under the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme.

"The project is valued at an estimated amount of $24.7 million, and it was awarded on October 19, 2021 and construction commenced on July 13, 2022, with a target completed date of July 2024 but however upon assumption of office, the project has not been completed and an amount of $8 million has been expended with about 20% completion of procurement and site construction work," he stated.

Dr Jinapor further indicated that he had engaged the project’s board to ascertain the causes of the delay, adding that front-end engineering processes were among the issues cited for the slow progress.

"I personally invited the board to enquire from them what was holding the work and the board said a frontend engeering had been undertaken," he added.

Kofi Arko Nokoe, however, maintained that the timely completion of the facility remains critical for residents of Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira and called for urgent measures to ensure the project is delivered without further setbacks.

AE