Value For Money: Cost of military cemetery reduced by $1.5m

The downward review follows the Defence Minister’s order for a probe into the cost of the project which was initially estimated at $6 million.

The Deputy Minister of Defence Major Rtd Derek Oduro has revealed that the initial cost of a military cemetery under construction at the Burma Camp has been slashed by some $1.5 million.

The downward review follows the Defence Minister’s order for a probe into the cost of the project which was initially estimated at $6 million. The Minister during a tour of the site said the cost was outrageous.

Subsequently, the investigation has led to a review bringing the cost to $4.5 million.

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However, Major Rtd Oduro said his Ministry will push for a further reduction in the cost of the cemetery.

“We thought it was on the high side so we called the contractor and the other stakeholders, who came and briefed us. Yesterday they met us at the Ministry of Defence and the amount has been cut to $4.5 million. The contractors have reviewed the cost of the project. Some other changes have been made and that made it go down, as we were told the other day.”

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Major Oduro said his Ministry had value for money on its mind and “we think that construction of this small project should not cost so much.”

On what brought the cost of the project down, he indicated the contractors said: “that the walkway was to be done with asphalt, but it has been changed to concrete pavement and I saw no difference between the two.”

The downward review follows the Defence Minister’s order for a probe into the cost of the project which was initially estimated at $6 million. Read Full Story