A MINISTER’S QUESTION

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Local Government minister

At the opening session of a two-day workshop in Kumasi last Thursday to enhance the capacity of presiding members of the local assemblies, Alhaji Dauda, the Minister for Local Government asked a very pertinent question, namely why, although some government-sponsored project costs more than privately sponsored projects, the latter usually have a longer lifespan and are of higher quality.

It is a difficult question, especially when there are no major differences between the projects. Indeed the Minister provided one answer among others, when he chastised supervisors of various government projects for not putting up their best in playing their roles.

He recalled that in the Asutifi South Constituency in the Brong Ahafo region, for instance, he had seen cracks in the walls of buildings sponsored by the government soon after they had been handed over to the Assembly.

He wondered how a six-classroom block constructed in the same locality by some private companies with similar materials bought from the same market and the same kind of labour tended to produce better quality structures at lower cost than the one executed by government agencies.

‘There must be something wrong with our system’, The Minister commented.

The issue as the Minister rightly identified is with the supervision of government projects. Either they get away with okaying any project they are presented with or that they are involved in underhand deals that make accept what they should not.

It is indeed great that it is the Local Government Minister himself, who is raising the issue. He is an overall supervisor and if he decides to query and tackle such mysteries till everything comes to light, the country as a whole will be grateful to him.

Editorial

DISTURBING NEWS

An account that the only dam in Aflyenu in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region has been poisoned is very disturbing.

According to reports, all the fish in the water, which serves the community, are reported dead, reigniting a feud between locals and the Fulani nomads.

The account is that some locals poisoned the water in reaction to farm destruction by some herdsmen in the area.

This is certainly a very dangerous development. There are already concerns about the consequences of the poisoning of the dam on intended and unintended persons.

But beyond all else, the report points to disregard or lack of belief in due process.

Frustrated by disturbances from herdsmen, a farmer or some farmers would employ self-help solutions without having the expertise or authority to deal with such matters.

Most likely the aggrieved farmer or farmers are aware of recognized avenues for redress but for one reason or the other, have chosen not to pursue that path.

It is therefore not enough to remind them of what the right options are. There is the need for a comprehensive solution that would involve all involved in discussions aimed at durable solutions to such regularly occurring problems.

The non-viability of this particular solution has already become evident. Residents have already been forced to turn to alternative sources of water. Others are alarmed that the water in the dam is still being used by some farmers on their farms.