Former President John Mahama pocketed $25 million from funds which were meant for the development of the Kumasi Airport, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Bosiako, has stated.
The erstwhile National Democratic Congress estimated that $29 million would be used for the project but in the end, the NPP Chairman known as Chairman Wontumi revealed that only $4 million was used for it.
Under the erstwhile NDC government, a total of US$29,093,097.90 was spent on the rehabilitation of the Kumasi Airport. According to the former Minister for Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, the rehabilitation works affected the existing Airfield Pavements as well as provision and installation of Aeronautical Ground Lighting System.
In an address to Parliament, she indicated that the scope of works for the two components included patch repair works, correction of undulating surface, provision and placing of Asphalt Reinforcement Grid (ARG) on regulating course, provision and placing of 70mm thick Marshall asphalt on top of the ARG, pavement marking as well as earthworks to the runway strip to ensure compliance with ICAO and GCAA requirements.
But speaking on the Good Evening Ghana show, Chairman Wontumi described the edifice former President Mahama left for Ashanti region as a “Kitchen airport”.
“John Mahama built a kitchen airport in Kumasi. He told us they used $29 dollars but when the NPP took over, we brought someone to come and value the project and it turned out he used only $4 million”, he said.
He followed up by challenging the former President to refund the $25 million he pocketed to the state.
Chairman Wontumi added that President Akufo-Addo is building a befitting airport in Ashanti region and it is exquisite than the “kitchen” Mr. John Mahama left behind as an airport.