Government has attempted to clear the air on the controversial PURC boreholes contract…
The NPP’s allegation that government blew about GHc30 million on some 500 boreholes in the country, has turned out to be true. However, government has defended its decision to spend the whopping amount on just boreholes.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), which is manning the project; has explained that the reason for the large budget, is due to the high cost of the project, which are higher than normal boreholes.
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The Director of Public Affairs for the PURC Nana Yaa Gyantuah, has explained that despite the high costs, government has approved it. She also said that the Public Procurement Authority, has given them green light to execute the project on sole sourcing basis.
PURC’s open explanation comes on the back of strong allegations by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), that the cost of the project was tremendously bloated by government. The NPP had fumed that the cost-inflated project was handed over to the PURC by the Mahama-led administration, to siphon public funds for its campaign activities.
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A former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie who led the calls, said the cost of the PURC boreholes project was four times the market rate. A statement signed by Sir Afriye said that; contrary to NDC’s estimation of GHc60,ooo per borehole, the rate per unit should not be more than GHc 18,000, no matter where the borehole is being dug.
But the PURC has explained that the project is for “integrated water systems” and that the prices are so higher than the normal “mechanized borehole without lines”. Gyantuah speaking to the media, said integrated water systems have a lot of components like electronic submersible pumps, that will carry the water to some installed tanks.
However, Nana Yaa explained that the project cannot be less than GHc 18,000 and thus challenged the NPP to provide contrary evidence.
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