The Board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has indicated its preparedness to cooperate with investigations into the documentary video conducted by Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled “Contracts for sale.”
A statement signed and issued in Accra yesterday by board chairman, Professor Douglas Boateng, and Mrs Lesley Dodoo, board secretary, further assured the public that the investigations would provide education on the role of the board in the grant of approvals for only the procedure to be adopted by procurement entities for single source and restricted tendering.
It said its role is in accordance with sections 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the Public Procurement Act, 2002 (Act 663) and not the conduct of the tender or selection of successful tenderers.
The statement explained that the investigations would also disclose that the board of the PPA does not influence subsequent tender processes conducted in accordance with Part 5 of Act 663 after an approval of the procedure for restricted tendering has been granted by the PPA.
“Neither does the board have control over the selection of contractors and suppliers for goods, works and services presented by procurement entities in applications for approval for a method of single source and restricted tendering, nor does it award contracts,” the statement added.
The video documentary which was broadcast on Wednesday alleged several wrongdoings on the part of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PPA, Adjenim Boateng Adjei
Consequently, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has suspended him from office with immediate effect to allow for investigations.
The President subsequently, referred the allegations involving conflict of interest to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and those relating to potential acts of corruption to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for their prompt action.
According to the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin, President Akufo-Addo has also notified the chairperson of the board of the PPA to ensure that Mr Adjei hands over his office expeditiously to Mr Frank Mante, the Deputy CEO of the PPA.
Meanwhile the Special Prosecutor (SP), Martin Amidu has invited Mr Adjei over alleged procurement malpractices levelled against him and other associates in the “Contracts for Sale” scandal.
The “Contracts for Sale” investigative piece broadcast on Wednesday, revealed that the TDL Company, a company incorporated in June 2017, had won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering, which it subsequently sold for varying sums of money.
Undercover encounters with the general manager of the company, Thomas Amoah, revealed that the company was selling a ¢22.3 million road contract to K-Drah Enterprise, a fake company Manasseh used for the investigation.
The company also had for sale, a Ministries of Works and Housing contract to construct a concrete drain in Santa Maria in Accra as well as a contract to build a one-story dormitory block in the Asante Akim North District.
The Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), according to the exposé had confirmed that the contracts on sale were authentic contracts that had been awarded to the company.
The company has had contracts with the Ghana Water Company (GWCL), Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPHA), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives.
It has also been shortlisted for restrictive tendering by the Bank of Ghana and the Roads and Highways Ministry. Such contracts are approved by the PPA, of which Mr Adjei (AB Adjei) is the CEO.
BY TIMES REPORTER
