The Sekondi – Takoradi CoST has organized a workshop to publicize the result of its 1st Infrastructure Transparency Index, ITI Survey in Takoradi on 30th November, 2021. The workshop saw industry players from both the private and public sector in conveying the results of the survey conducted for 30 public infrastructure projects from 15 participating Procuring Entities in the Western Region.
The Infrastructure Transparency Index, ITI is to define the criteria for measuring transparency which are generic with the legal provision of the country. The ITI provides information on a given project undertaken by an entity consequently to measure different levels of infrastructure transparency and also the quality of the related processes that improve participation and accountability among procuring entities in the country.
The survey which was commissioned by the Multi-Stakeholder Group, MSG of CoST Sekondi Takoradi, with support from the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, WRCC. The survey was conducted by a three independent Evaluation Team.
In an interview with Spice 91.9 FM, the leader of the team, Dr. Matthew Kwaw Somiah, a Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Built and Natural Environment of the Takoradi Technical University, TTU stated that “the survey is conducted annually to establish the extent of transparency with regards to procurement of infrastructural works in the public sector. It’s a survey which measures transparency in public infrastructural procurement.”
He mentioned that the purpose of the workshop highlighted the weakness with regards to transparency in infrastructural procurement as well as the strength that the Procuring Entities possesses.
“The workshop search out to access the general environment, legally promoting transparency regarding procurement of public infrastructure in Ghana and to help the procuring entities to address their weaknesses as highlighted specifically in line with capacity and processes in procuring infrastructure in the public sector in the survey.
Dr. Kwaw Somiah again said that, the outcome of the survey would be of utmost benefit to the government as it reveals how well the Assemblies are performing with respect to the enabling environment specifically with regards to transparency.
For his part, a representative of the Civil Society on CoST Multi Stakeholder Group, Aziz Mahmoud added that the
findings of CoST is different from that of the Auditors General report. CoST is mainly interested in how the various Assemblies deliver projects as well as creating avenue to engage citizens in what they intend to do.
He stressed that, CoST has no intention of putting any entity on the spot but to ensure transparency in the local infrastructure governance. He therefore pleaded with the Assemblies to open up with information on infrastructural projects.
