A ranking member of Roads and Transport Committee in Ghana’s parliament, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has asked that an amount of $2 million be paid back into the government’s coffers after the government’s failed Accra Sky Project.
Driving The News
The ranking member said that the decision of the board and management of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) was “illegal” as it breached Article 181 of the Constitution which required that any government entity that intended to enter into an economic venture with an international organization, must seek approval from Parliament.
Why This Matters
In a 2021 Auditor General’s report, the auditor general stated that the government initially spent $2 million on the Sky Train project.
The report said also stated that feasibility studies would have better informed the project economics and required approvals from the Cabinet of Ghana and the Parliament of Ghana are still not conclusive.
The Auditor General said after an assessment of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) risk management, it revealed that the policy is still in the draft stage.
The Backstory
In 2019, the government of Ghana and (Ai) Sky Train Consortium of South Africa partnered on the Accra Sky Train project, a fully automated, highly efficient, and extremely cost-effective public mass transit system that will use air propulsion technology to drive lightweight, high-passenger volume vehicles.
The project was suspended indefinitely after the Minister of Railway Development stated that the cost was too high.
What Happens Next
The ranking member Governs Kwame Agbodza has demanded that the $2 million amount is paid back into the government’s coffers after the project failed to take off.
Catch up on news and other tidbits on our WhatsApp Community Page, Twitter/X, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any news.
