The Ghana Post has suffered a setback in its bid to access a World Bank facility of US$3.5 million to modernize and electronically upgrade 50 post offices under the e-transform project.
The World Bank is willing to only disburse US$1.7 million due to delays by management of Ghana Post to justify the cost of the e-services projects according to the Communications Ministry.
In giving a clearer picture as to why the state agency could not access the full US$3.5 million on offer, Communications Specialist at the Ministry, Sandra Frimpong, said the slash came about at the World Bank’s mid-year review, after offering opportunities to the postal agency to justify projects it needed the funds for which wasn’t forthcoming.
“They agreed then that instead of proposing 50 post offices initially, 25 were in good shape so let’s concentrate on the other 25 that needed the modernization,” she added.
Other beneficiary state institutions under the e-transform project include the Ghana Procurement Authority, the Meteorology Department, and the Judicial Service and Parliamentary service.
With the slash, only 25 post offices are in the reckoning to be refurbished including the acquisition of computers and computer accessories to provide e-services. The e-transform project began in 2013 and is scheduled to be concluded in 2020.
By Michael Eli Dokosi/goldstreetbusiness.com