Built and forgotten: 62 Government projects completed but abandoned

Sixty-two government infrastructure projects, completed between 2016 and 2024 are yet to be put to use across the country, raising queries from the Auditor-General.

The state spent about GHC52.9 million on these unused facilities. They include school buildings meant to reduce classroom congestion, health facilities meant to provide lifesaving care, market sheds meant to boost local commerce, police stations/posts meant to provide security, and sanitation projects that could curb disease outbreaks.

These projects were executed in 23 districts in 13 regions, according to the Auditor-General’s report for 2024. The Ashanti Region leads with 12 projects yet to be put to use, followed closely by the Upper East Region with 11 projects.

The report assigned varying reasons for the failure of authorities to make use of the facilities. 

For instance, in the Bono Region, a District Police Headquarters was built at Banda Ahenkro in 2021 but the Ghana Police Service refused to occupy the facility as the service demanded the facility be furnished. The Police Service also requested several additions and changes to the structure.

In the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region, completed market sheds at Bentum and Senya Bereku remain unused since 2023, because the projects were cited far away from the main community.

In other areas, the completed infrastructure projects are not being used for reasons such as the absence of electricity and water supply to the facilities. Disputes over the ownership of lands on which the projects are sited have also stopped the beneficiaries from putting them to use, according to the Auditor-General’s report.

In some instances, however, the Auditor-General says, no cogent reason was provided by the authorities for their refusal or failure to make use of the facilities.

One significant project lying idle is a two-storey structure with 40 lockable stores at Jisonayili in the Sagnarigu District of the Northern Region. Completed in October 2023, it cost the state GHC9,544,020.66. The Auditor-General’s report indicates that no reason was given by the management of the assembly for why the facility remains unused.

Still in Jisonayili, another costly project sitting idle is a two-storey complex comprising 72 lockable stores, a police post, a crèche, an abattoir, and market stalls. Completed in October 2023, the state paid GHC8,631,803.83, and yet there seems to be no attempt to make use of it.

At the mechanics’ enclave in the Upper East Region, a retaining wall and filling works were completed in June 2021, costing the taxpayer GHC2,297,863.64. Yet, they remain unused, with no reason given.

The mechanic enclave is located in a waterlogged area around the Bulk Oil Storage Transportation (BOST) depot in the Bolgatanga Municipality. And in order to protect the site from getting flooded, the retaining wall was constructed, and filling works were done. 

Another project in the Upper East Region, comprising two mechanic sheds, a police station, and a public washroom, has remained unused since June 2021, with no explanation, according to the Auditor-General’s report. It cost the taxpayer GHC1,999,706.94.

The total cost of these four projects in the Upper East Region alone stands at GHC22.5 million, representing 42.5% of the GHC52.9 million for the larger pool of 62 completed projects lying idle across the country.

There are other projects, which cost less than one million cedis each and are also yet to be put to use. For instance, in the Eastern Region, an office for the National Health Insurance Scheme was constructed in Atiwa. Out of the contract sum of GHC299,297.00, the contractor was paid GHC149,980.50, leaving a balance of GHC149,316.50. The building is yet to be put to use because it has no electricity connection.

Similarly, in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region, a police station was constructed at Gakli in 2024 at a contract sum of GHC480,954.48. Though the contractor received GHC319,287.60 as payment. The facility is yet to be put to use because it has not been connected to electricity.

In the Nkoranza South Municipality of Bono East Region, a health centre and nurses’ quarters were built at Akumsa Domase. The contractor was paid GHC485,963.78, but they remain unused because they have not been furnished.

In the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam District of the Central Region, a 3-bedroom bungalow was built at Ajumako in 2021 at a cost of GHC350,000 for the Judicial Service. It is yet to be put to use because, according to the Auditor-General’s report, it has no fence wall.

Other facilities lying idle across the country include an abattoir in the Nanton District of the Northern Region, a CHPS Compound at Mankrong in the Central Region, a four-unit single-room self-contained teachers’ quarters, including a kitchen at Tetrem in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, and a CHPS compound and nurses’ accommodation with furniture at Kumbosgo in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region.

Auditor-General’s recommendations

In all instances, the Auditor-General faulted management of the district assemblies for the idleness of the completed projects.

“The delay in putting the completed projects to use has deprived the beneficiary communities of the intended services and benefits, thereby undermining the purpose for which the projects were undertaken,” the report says.  “We recommended that the management of the Assemblies expedite action to operationalize the completed projects so that they can serve their intended purpose and deliver value to the communities.”