The Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has called for a forensic audit into the activities of the World Bank’s country office and the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID).
Mr. Bedzrah criticised the project’s current mode of implementation, suggesting it should have been executed in phases.
On Friday, May 17, 2024, Parliament approved a $150 million loan facility from the World Bank for the GARID project.
Mr. Bedzrah and the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson have both submitted petitions calling for forensic audits.
“Both Minority Leader and I have requested forensic audits of the World Bank’s Ghana office and the GARID project. We suspect irregularities because, in project management, the standard for additional work is typically between 10 to 30 per cent,” said Mr. Bedzrah in an interview on Citi Breakfast Show.
Mr. Bedzrah expressed concerns regarding the substantial funds allocated to the project, highlighting a lack of transparency in its implementation.
He argued that the case is nearing 60 percent adding that many aspects were overlooked during the initial planning stages.
He is therefore advocating for the project to be approached in phases.
“Given that the project appears to be a continuation rather than a new phase, it raises concerns about its integrity and necessitates verification through a forensic audit.,” he said.
Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
