The proposed Vice Presidential Villa in Ghana's capital, Accra, has been left unfinished and abandoned for 13 years. The project, which began in November 2013, was expected to be completed within 18 months. However, construction stalled, and the government has since paid the contractor, CONSAR Limited, over $2.4 million. The original contract sum was $3,563,884.50, but conflicting accounts have placed the project's cost at between $3.56 million and almost $14 million.
According to documents obtained by The Fourth Estate, the government paid CONSAR Limited $2,425,752.21 within the first five months of work beginning. It is unclear why more than two-thirds of the contract amount was paid so early or how much work had been completed at the time. The project's consultant, Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), stated that construction stalled after the change of government following the 2016 elections.
There is still no publicly reconciled account of the project's total cost. At least three markedly different figures have been associated with the project: the original contract sum of $3.56 million, the $5.9 million the National Democratic Congress said had been budgeted, and the nearly $14 million cited by then Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and Nana Akomea, then communications director of the governing New Patriotic Party.
The uncertainty surrounding the project extends beyond the missed completion date and cost. The area surrounding the compound has changed considerably since construction began, with several multi-storey apartment buildings constructed nearby, some of them overlooking the proposed residence. A government official familiar with the project stated that these developments could pose security risks and may have made the property unsuitable as the official home of the Vice-President.
The project's condition leaves three unanswered questions: how much has the state spent, why was the residence never completed, and after 13 years of change around it, can it still serve the purpose for which millions of dollars have already been spent? The government has yet to provide a clear public account reconciling the different figures associated with the project.
The abandoned buildings remain behind the walls of the overgrown compound, unfinished and unused. The project's delay may have created a more serious problem, as the surrounding area has changed significantly since construction began. Even if the government resumes construction, it may have to determine whether the original design and location still meet the security requirements of the country's second-highest political office.
The proposed Vice Presidential Villa is a symbol of the challenges Ghana faces in completing public projects. The project's abandonment has left taxpayers without clear answers about how much has been spent, why the project stalled, and whether the site can still be used for its intended purpose. The government must provide a clear account of the project's cost and determine the future of the abandoned residence.
Key points
- The proposed Vice Presidential Villa in Ghana has been abandoned for 13 years, despite over $2.4 million spent on its construction.
- Conflicting accounts have placed the project's cost at between $3.56 million and almost $14 million.
- The project's delay may have created security risks due to changes in the surrounding area.
