The Minister of Environment on Friday asked Asutifi District Assembly, to set up a five-member committee to supervise the disbursement of funds for the construction of a market and a lorry park in the district.
Ms Sherry Ayittey tasked the committee to appoint a chairman and a treasurer and representative of the chiefs and the assembly.
The Minister made call at Kenyase in the Brong Ahafo Region, when briefing the chiefs and some opinion leaders about the latest developments regarding the Newmont Cyanide Spillage in the Subri River last year.
The Minister introduced Transtech Consult, who would supervise and design the market facility and the lorry park project, at the meeting.
She said a needs assessment was carried out in the community to ascertain which project would be of benefit and profitable to the people.
The Minister explained that Transtech Consult was selected among other companies through the due process and in line with government laws.
Ms Ayittey said the law “stipulate that before any body is appointed as Consultant to a project, his or her appointment should go
through the Procurement Agency and the Ministerial Tender Board to ensure transparency and accountability”.
She said this was meant to guard against cronyism, in the award of contracts and called for collaboration, transparency and accountability in the usage of the funds.
Mr Eric Addae, District Chief Executive, said a total of GH¢70 million was allocated by Newmont Ahafo Mine as compensation for the
cyanide spillage.
Out of the figure, he said GH¢31 million had been set aside for the district assembly and GH¢39 million for the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Responding to a question from Odeneho Dadieko Nsiah Ababio, Omanhene of Kenyase No.2 about why the sector Ministry or government was disbursing the funds allocated for the construction of the market place and the lorry park rather than the assembly, Ms Ayittey said it was within the law.
She said the ministry was empowered by the law to supervise the usage of revenue approved by the National Procurement Agency.