SUSPENDED! AB Adjei
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has suspended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei (A.B. Adjei), over alleged procurement misconduct.
A letter signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency on Thursday, said: “The suspension follows the broadcast of allegations made against him in an investigative documentary conducted by Manasseh Azuri Awuni titled: ‘Contracts For Sale’.”
It said: “President Akufo-Addo has subsequently referred the allegations involving conflict of interest to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and those relating to potential acts of corruption to the Office of Special Prosecutor for their prompt action.”
“The President has 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 Chief Executive Officer of the PPA,” it added.
Amidu Invitation
Immediately the President’s letter reached the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the head, Martin Amidu, invited the beleaguered PPA boss and directors and shareholders of Talent Discovery Limited and B-Molie Enterprise to assist in investigations into the procurement malpractice.
In a letter signed personally by the Special Prosecutor yesterday and addressed to Mr. Agyenim Adjei with copies to the acting Head of Investigations at the Office of the Special Prosecutor and Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, said: “The Office has been conducting preliminary investigations into suspected commission of corruption and corruption-related offences by the above-named limited liability companies and their directors and shareholders.”
“The matter of preliminary investigations has reached such a stage that instructions for full investigations into possible procurement malpractices in the nature of corruption and corruption-related offences have been issued.”
The persons of interest were directed to “report to the acting Head of Investigations at the Office of Special Prosecutor on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at 10 am with the relevant information and documents herein pursuant to Sections 29 and 73 of the OFP ACT, 2017 (ACT 959) and Regulation 10 of L.I 2,374.”
Main Investigation
Some investigations by freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, revealed that Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), a company incorporated in June 2017, won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering.
The journalist also reported that the company was engaged in selling contracts. Undercover encounters with the General Manager of the Company, Thomas Amoah, revealed that the company was selling a GH¢22.3 million road contract to K-Drah Enterprise, a fake company Manasseh used for the investigation.
This contract was awarded to B-Molie Limited, a company Mr. Amoah said was a sister company of TDL.
The company also had for sale a Ministries of Works and Housing contract to construct a concrete drain at Santa Maria in Accra, as well as a contract to build a one-storey dormitory block in the Asante Akim North District.
After demanding and taking a registration fee of GH¢5000 and a deposit from Manasseh’s undercover agent, the General Manager of the TDL, who is also the one who signs the contracts on behalf of the company, handed over three contracts when K-Drah Enterprise promised to come on a particular Thursday and pay for one of the projects.
The ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), according to the journalist, confirmed that the contracts being sold by TDL are authentic contracts that have been awarded to the company.
The company has had contracts with the Ghana Water Company (GWCL), Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), according to him.
It also has contracts with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Works and Housing and four contracts with the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives to construct dams under the government’s ‘One Village, One Dam’ project.
TDL has also been shortlisted for restrictive tendering by the Bank of Ghana for the supply and installation of air purifiers. The company has been shortlisted by the Roads and Highways Ministry for three road contracts and the evaluation is currently ongoing.
The PPA board has confirmed that TDL was shortlisted by the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development for a contract in 2018. Besides, the board confirmed that TDL was brought to the PPA on 14 occasions for restrictive tendering approvals.
Such contracts are approved by the PPA of which Mr. Adjei is the CEO.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Melvin Tarlue