External Auditors into the Connect PNG Program are now in country to commence face to face interviews with all stakeholders and physical inspections of the road projects, starting in the Manus province where the start of phase one of the program was launched in 2022.
Acting Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu said the Audit is a response to various concerns raised on the floor of parliament last year regarding how the National Government is managing and Coordinating the K20 billion Connect PNG Road Works Program over 20 years.
The Acting Chief Secretary said that the Connect PNG Act 2021 provides that 16,500 kilometres must be constructed by 2040 and the law commits 5.6% of the country’s annual budget to the Program.
He said this means that no matter how much the budget for each year, from 2020 up to 2040, 5.6% of the total annual budget is already committed by law to the program.
Mr. Pomaleu emphasised that this is one of the biggest Program ever undertaken by the Government of Papua New Guinea and to ensure that things are done properly and quality and sustainable work is delivered for the people, an Audit on the programs progress must be done.
He said the Manus East West Highway is a 150-kilometre road that will open up access to the Manus Special Economic Zone and is one of six identified projects that comes under phase 1 of the program,
Mr. Pomaleu further added that the current contract in the works is for 32.5 kilometres of road, starting from NBC Junction to Kawa Primary School valued at over K115 million, which was supposed to run from 2020 to 2023 but started in 2022 after the contract for the project was signed between the State and the contractor, COVEC. The Auditors are now in Manus to investigate work progress.
“In Manus, the external auditors will meet with representatives from the National Department of Works, the Provincial Department of Works, the Contract Manager and the Contractor, COVEC, for one on one interviews before going on a site visit to personally see evidence of work progress,” he said.
The Acting Chief Secretary said that at the end of the Independent audit, a report will be provided to the National Executive Council on their findings on the current status of the road works, the procurement process of all the contracts awarded from 2020 – 2024 under the Connect PNG Program and provide recommendations on findings to change and improve the practise under GoPNG funding and procurement processes.
Governor for Manus Hon. Charlie Benjamin expressed his appreciation of the Independent External Auditors coming to Manus saying they would like to get clarity on the processes involved in the awarding of the contract and get answers as to why the project is not progressing as per the time line for the project.