Details of gov’t’s 2018 consulting expenses pop up online; Ghanaians surprised
- Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare has revealed the Akufo-Addo-led government spent $204,325,225 for technical and management services in 2018
- He went on to say that the government, however, spent $39,946,317 on the same services a year before
- Social media users have since reacted to the details he shared online
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Details of the government’s expenditure on consultancy services in the year 2018 have caused a stir online.
A Ghanaian professor of law and accounting, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, better known as Kwaku Azar, released details of the expenses online.
In a post on social media that has since gone viral, he indicated that Ghana paid $204,325,225 for technical and management services in the year 2018.
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This represents an over 400% increase as the country spent $39,946,317 on the same services the year before.
"2018 was the Year of Consulting.
Your beloved country spent $204,325,225 on the payment of technical and management services. By way of comparison, $39,946,317 was spent in 2017.
The over 400% increase, we are told, is due to more consultancy services paid during 2018.
I’d like to see a listing of the consultants, the nature and benefit of the consultancy, and a value for money audit of each of those services.
128/1820 is a bona fide scam and sham.
Da Yie!"
Professor Asare then requested for the details of the consultants, the nature and benefits of the consultancy and the value for money audit of each of those services.
Since the details of the services surfaced online, social media users have reacted in surprise:
Awuni wondered if former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was a beneficiary.
Ntim noted that despite the excessive spending, things don't change.
Prempeh wondered why Ghana continues to spend on consultants.
Sang stated that such things happen when men without shame are in control.
Tia II added that such expenses are placed under 'miscellaneous expenditure.'
In other news, an agriculture-inclined business in Zambia, African Green Resources (AGR), has announced a finance scheme for farmers valued at $81 million.
The project, launched on Sunday, March 1, 2020, is designed to provide farm supplies and technology to farmers in exchange for farm produce.
This forms part of AGR’s plan to invest $150 million in Zambia for a series of projects, including a 50-megawatt solar farm and irrigation dam.
Per a report by Reuters, AGR would select 120 commercial farmers, as well as 250,000 small and middle scale farmers under the new programme.
The plan is to increase food security in the country as well as the surrounding regions. The fund would take are of 60,000 tonnes of fertilizer for wheat and soya farming, estimated to be worth $55 million. Another $26 million would be used for projects such as the expansion of grain storage silos.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
