Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has revealed that 35 contractors engaged under the Agenda 111 initiative received a total of US$7.9 million in mobilisation funds but either failed to report to project sites or deliver work reflecting the advance payments.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, during the presentation of the Auditor-General’s Report on Arrears and Payables for 2024, Mr Nyarko Ampem said a thorough audit of Agenda 111 projects uncovered widespread misuse of funds.

The report indicates that the US$7.9 million was disbursed as upfront mobilisation payments to enable contractors to commence work on several hospital construction projects nationwide.

However, the audit found that some contractors never began work at their assigned sites, while in other cases, the progress reported fell far short of the funds released.

The Deputy Finance Minister also noted that the mobilisation guarantees originally secured from the contractors have since lapsed, casting doubt on the government’s ability to immediately reclaim the money.

Authorities have since issued surcharge notices to the contractors, compelling them to either refund the disbursed funds or account for the payments received.