Keta The Volta Regional Coordinating Council will soon come out with new guide-lines for the award of contracts by district assemblies in the region. This is to ensure cost effectiveness, quality work, transparency and to enhance the ability of the assemblies to pay for such contracts. Lt.-Col. Charles Agbenaza, the region al minister, announced this when he addressed the executive committees and heads of departments of the Sogakope and Keta districts yesterday. He said the temporary suspension of the award of new contracts became necessary because the mode of awarding such contracts were fraught with anomalies. The assemblies, he said, had awarded contracts in expectation of their share of the common fund, which he described as dangerous since they cannot predict how much will be made available. Lt.-Col. Agbenaza said a more stable source of funding for long term contracts is needed if the district assemblies are not to default in the payment of work completed by contractors. He urged assembly members to scrutinise every contract and transaction to be financed by the districts. He said the practice of members bailing out other officials for deficiencies in the award and execution of contracts is an indictment on the entire membership.
