The Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that Ghana’s chancery project in Ethiopia has been revalued from $7.5 million to $9.8 million.
Speaking to the media, he highlighted that the contractor sought a variation due to lengthy delays and inflation.
The consultant recommended that they agree to the revised amount to facilitate the project’s completion, which President Mahama endorsed.
Mr. Ablakwa pointed out that the project had been stalled for approximately two years, leading the contractor to believe that Ghana would not resume or complete it.
He emphasised that President Mahama considered the project a priority and insisted that it should not be halted.
“The contractor was wondering if Ghana will ever really return to this project and finish it, and he was really quite unhappy when I met him.
“President Mahama did not hesitate at all; he said, ‘OK, let’s go see what is happening, he arrived here and said, ‘This is a beautiful project that should not be stopped; Ghana is not going to leave Ethiopia and will not leave the African Union,” He stated.
He explained that President Mahama called upon the Minister of Finance, alongside embassy staff and the contractors, to ensure that all outstanding payments were made.
He instructed the contractors to return to the site and complete the project before the upcoming African Union (AU) summit, expressing his desire to commission the project during that event.
“He instructed all contractors to return to the site, and this project should be finished. He wants to commission this before he leaves Addis Ababa, in the next attendance of AU summit, ” he stated.
He reiterated President Mahama’s commitment to multilateralism and his determination to see the successful completion of this project.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
