Asantehene advises Gov’t officials

The Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu, has reminded ministers and their deputies as well as those entrusted with the responsibility of running the national kitty to abide by the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) in their quest to execute projects being funded by the state.

Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II

He said the Act was purposely promulgated by parliament to ensure the judicious use of state funds by way of checking malfeasance and waste of state resources.

According to the Asantehene, the Act to a large extent would serve as a barometer to make ministers responsible and accountable to enhance the provision of quality works which at the end the country would not be the loser.

Otumfour gave the advice when the Ashanti Regional Minister Kofi Opoku Manu led some regional ministers, their deputies and regional coordinating directors to pay a familiarization call on him at the Manhyia Palace over the weekend.

The Regional Ministers and their Deputies and Coordinating Directors were in the Ashanti regional capital to attend a day’s special training workshop on the Public Procurement Act organized by the Public Procurement Authority for them.

“I want to warn you that the people will hold you responsible for any shoddy work that come under your watch,” he emphasized.

The Asantehene was not happy about the way some ministers in the successive governments could not stamp on their authorities but watched only for the state to lose huge sums of money meant for projects.

“Consider your present positions as temporal ones because you are not going to remain there forever; at the end of your tenure of office, the good people of Ghana will demand accountability from your stewardship hence you must be mindful about every step you take”, he cautioned them.

Otumfour said as politicians they should bear in mind that good governance and rule of law should be the legacy they should bequeath Ghanaians. He pledged his readiness to offer the needed support to promote national acceleration growth.

The Ashanti Regional Minister Opoku Manu on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to Otumfour for the audience granted them and assured that they were ready to call on him for advice whenever the need arises.

BY JAMES APPIAKORANG JNR., KUMASI