The Oforikrom Municipal Assembly (OfMA) has reactivated four abandoned public infrastructure projects, including an administration block and a municipal court. This move is part of a broader government policy to complete thousands of inherited and stalled public works, known as "legacy projects." The projects were handed over to contractors without any changes to their original terms.
These reactivated projects include an Administration Block at Appiadu, which was 60% complete, and a Municipal Court at Boadi Junction, which was 90% complete. Also included are a Judge’s Bungalow at Appiadu, 70% complete, and an MCE’s Bungalow along with a 14-seater toilet facility, both located at Kentinkrono. The stalling of these projects was primarily due to monetary issues, according to Anwel Sadat Ahmed, the Chief Executive of OfMA.
This initiative fits into Ghana's ongoing efforts to address the challenge of uncompleted public infrastructure, which often drains national resources through maintenance of unutilized assets or continued reliance on rented facilities. The completion of these projects is expected to reduce recurrent expenditure for the assembly. It also aims to enhance local governance and judicial efficiency within the Oforikrom municipality. The MCE highlighted that previous administrations awarded contracts centrally, leaving local assemblies with limited oversight on project specifics.
Anwel Sadat Ahmed stated that the administration block is expected to be finished within eight months, while the municipal court will be completed in four months. He assured the public that all four named abandoned projects will be completed by 2027. This will then allow the assembly to initiate other new legacy projects.
The lack of an administration block has forced the assembly to budget annually for renting office spaces, which significantly depletes its funds. Similarly, the absence of a municipal court means cases within the assembly’s jurisdiction are heard at the Asokwa District Court and Asokore Mampong Municipal Court. This situation deprives OfMA of a percentage of compensations paid to these external courts. Completing these facilities will therefore lead to substantial savings and improved service delivery for the municipality.
The MCE also acknowledged President John Dramani Mahama for allocating 20% of the common fund specifically for the completion of abandoned projects. This allocation demonstrates a commitment to addressing the backlog of uncompleted works across the country. The successful completion of these projects in Oforikrom will serve as a model for other assemblies facing similar challenges. It will also free up funds for future development initiatives.
The reactivation of these projects is a critical step towards fiscal prudence and improved public service delivery in the Oforikrom municipality. It is expected to alleviate financial burdens on the assembly and enhance access to justice for local residents. The progress of these projects will be closely watched as an indicator of the broader government policy's effectiveness.