Former Roads and Highways Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye has clarified the financing details of the Ofankor–Nsawam road project, following remarks made by President John Dramani Mahama during a recent site visit.
President Mahama, on Wednesday, suggested that the Akufo-Addo-led government had secured a loan meant to fully fund the project and questioned why the road remained incomplete.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Bantama MP explained that the $750 million Afreximbank loan obtained by the previous government was a multi-project facility, with $200 million specifically earmarked for the Ofankor–Nsawam road.
He emphasized that the $200 million was intended to support, not fully finance, the project, as it fell short of the total contract sum. The remaining $146 million was to be provided directly by government.
“The first project under the facility was the Ofankor–Nsawam road, and we presented the agreement to Parliament. The current Finance and Roads Ministers were part of the process, so they are aware of the details,” he said.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye suggested that President Mahama’s concerns might have arisen from inadequate briefing rather than intentional misrepresentation.
“I don’t think the President deliberately put out those claims. It’s possible he was not properly briefed. Unless I review the records, I cannot say how much the previous government contributed beyond the $200 million, but it is clear that the facility was never intended to fund the full cost of the project,” he explained.
He also noted that, according to official handing-over notes, the NPP administration had completed about 68 percent of the work before leaving office.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye stressed that public discussions on the project should be based on facts and official documents, rather than political rhetoric.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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