The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has questioned the reported costs of borehole drilling by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), arguing that significant price differences between public and privately commissioned projects are undermining public confidence in politicians.

In comments posted on Facebook in reaction to the ongoing borehole drilling controversy, the MP said many Ghanaians find it difficult to accept the reported figures because borehole drilling is a familiar service that individuals and businesses regularly pay for.

According to him, private individuals who drill boreholes for domestic or commercial purposes often pay considerably less than the amounts reportedly spent by some assemblies for similar services.

“Drilling of boreholes are usually done by individuals at a certain cost for their domestic use or even for commercial uses. The amount charged is almost half of the reported figures our various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies are paying,” he stated.

Mr. Acquah questioned why the same service provided to private customers could attract significantly higher costs when commissioned by government institutions.

“What is more intriguing is the fact that it is the same services the drillers offer to both private people and government bodies,” he added.

Concerns over inflated costs

The MP argued that borehole drilling is a common activity whose costs are familiar to many citizens, making substantial price differences particularly difficult to explain.

“Boreholes are wrong items for our local assemblies to inflate costs. Habba, these are too common items whose costs are known by many Ghanaians because they have often drilled their own boreholes for their private and commercial uses,” he said.

His comments have brought renewed attention to the need for transparency in public procurement and the justification of costs associated with infrastructure projects undertaken by local assemblies.

Although borehole costs can vary depending on drilling depth, geological conditions, location, pumps and other technical requirements, significant differences between public and private project costs warrant clear explanations of the specifications and services covered by each contract.

Warning over public confidence

Beyond the financial concerns, Mr. Acquah warned that unexplained project costs could deepen public distrust of political leaders and public institutions.

“You guys are eroding the confidence of the Ghanaian in politicians,” he cautioned.

His remarks underscore growing concerns about value for money in the use of public resources, particularly at the local government level, where assemblies are responsible for delivering essential infrastructure and services to communities.

For taxpayers, the issue goes beyond whether a borehole has been completed. It also concerns whether the amount spent represents reasonable value and whether procurement decisions can withstand public scrutiny.

The MP's intervention highlights the importance of transparent contract awards, clear project specifications and effective monitoring to ensure that public funds are used efficiently.

As debate over borehole drilling costs continues, the central question remains whether the amounts charged by assemblies can be adequately justified by the work undertaken.

For Mr. Acquah, unexplained cost disparities risk undermining public confidence in politicians and weakening trust in the institutions responsible for managing taxpayers' money.