President Nana Akufo-Addo commissioned the refurbished Albert Bosomtwe-Sam Sekondi Fishing Harbor, at a ceremony in Sekondi, in the Western Region.
The Second phase of the port expansion project was initiated by the John Mahama administration after securing $17 million from the Japanese government in 2016 which involved additional plant building, administration offices, water supply facility, pavement of the area behind the fishing handling shed and access drive way with canoe berthing facility.
At a stakeholder’s meeting to hand over the contract to the contractors in 2016, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the then board chairman of Ghana Ports and Harbor Authority (GPHA) explained that the project was a social intervention by government to support the fishing community in Sekondi.
He therefore urged the people to embrace the project and offer the needed support to the contractors.
Speaking on Ahotor Fm morning show with Onantefour Addea Munukum on Thursday,26th April, 2018, the vice chairman and director of elections of the opposition NDC, chided the hypocritical nature of the Akufo-Addo led government for its failure to recognize the previous administration for the bold initiative it took.
“ I remember we spent several weeks in Japan, we had series of engagements with the Japanese government on the need to support and invest in this project which has now come to fruition so we deserve some credit”.
“In opposition, the then candidate for the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate Dr. Bawumia derided various infrastructural investments the Mahama administration initiated and described them as photoshop projects”
“Now Nana Akufo-Addo is commissioning the so called Photoshop projects without recognizing the former NDC administration for commencing those projects”, He stated.
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo again recounted series of engagements the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) had with stakeholders which included the Western Regional Co-coordinating Council (RCC), the Chiefs and the People of Asikado and the Sekondi Traditional Area towards the successful implementation of the project.
Mr. Ampofo finds it quiet disingenuous, the NPP government’s decision not to recognize the past NDC administration for its role or invite the former president to the commissioning of projects the NDC administration started considering the crucial role it played in those projects. As a sign of good faith and good will, President Kuffour was invited by the late Prof. Mills of blessed memory to the commissioning of Gorge Walker Bush road some time ago because Kuffour started that project so Akufo-Addo could have done same to earn for himself some integrity credibility.
The posturing of Akufo-Addo and his ministers at the ceremony did not show any sign that the Sekondi project was started by the previous NDC administration and this was not the first time commissioning of projects started in the past NDC government had gone without recognition of the numerous roles past officials played, typical example is the GHC 101.2 million Naval Base housing project in Tema and the Wa Water Project in Wa.
Ivan-Kyei Innocent|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
