Minister Designate for Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agbodza, has raised serious concerns over the management of the controversial E-Gate project.
Speaking during the ministerial vetting in parliament, Agbodza alleged that Ghana paid $1.7 million for a project that should have been implemented at no cost.
He further claimed that there is no formal contract covering the project, calling the entire arrangement an example of poor governance and financial mismanagement.
Agbodza dismissed the Ghana Immigration Service’s (GIS) rebuttal to his earlier claims, asserting that their response only confirmed his allegations.
“They said the total cost is $297 million instead of the $240 million I mentioned. How is that a rebuttal? It only affirms that something is wrong,”.
He suggested that the Immigration Service may not fully understand the project, emphasizing that the E-Gate initiative falls under the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited.
He revealed that the E-Gate project was initially intended to be implemented for free as part of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
According to him, a memo from the Ministry of Finance dated March 19, 2024, highlights that efforts to justify the payments began only after he raised questions about the project.
“Why are we paying $1.7 million for something we were supposed to get for free? The government had no business spending that money,” Agbodza stated.
The majority whip also referred to what he described as an embarrassing scene during the commissioning of the project by the Vice President, suggesting it reflected poor preparation and execution.
He criticized the Immigration Service for its involvement in the project, arguing that it falls outside their jurisdiction.
Agbodza maintained his stance that the project lacked value for money, reiterating that there is no signed contract to support the expenditure.
Ministerial vetting: There’s no contract for E-gate, yet according to the NPP government, we paid $1.7m. Ghana was not supposed to pay a dime – Kwame Agbodza. #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/p4H6OubPAX
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 20, 2025
