Ghana currently spends $1.2 billion annually on infrastructure, equivalent to 7.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet investment in the country has not delivered full value for money. In public procurement more broadly, inefficiency and corruption is rife and in the infrastructure sector this leads to profound waste and poor quality projects.
CoST Sekondi-Takoradi is pleased to announce the initiation of an Infrastructure Transparency Survey through the use of CoST's Infrastructure Transparency Index1 (ITI).
A capacity building workshop for 48 stakeholders from the eight CoST participating districts has been organised to expose them to existing laws in Ghana that enable and promote disclosure of projects and contract data.
The Sekondi /Takoradi chapter of the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, (CoST) has launched a second Assurance Report on eight projects within the Western Region.
Discussants at a round-table on Revitalising Infrastructure Investments in Ghana have identified the lack of disclosure of data on contracts as bane to concerns of fraud in the country’s infrastructural procurement.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Local Chapter of the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) has engaged two communities on its Assurance Report launched recently on five selected infrastructure projects in the area.
Mayor for STMA, Anthony K.K Sam, has argued that corruption perception of public office holders in the development of public infrastructure is largely influenced by the lack of information on these investments.
Mr Kwadwo Henry Osei-Asante, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor has advocated for the creation of a national Infrastructure Transparency Portal where information on government projects and related contracts would be displayed for the citizenry.
The STMA has become the first subnational government under the Open Governance Partnership (OGP ) to be admitted by the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) to enhance responsive and transparency in the sector.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi has said stopping the perceived or real corruption in the infrastructure sector was critical in ensuring durable projects that could stand the test of time and promote economic well-being.