Professor Stephen Adei
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has dismissed Professor Stephen Adei’s allegation of corruption in the award of road contracts.
On October 20, 2023, the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) revealed to an Accra-based TV station that those seeking road contracts are told to pay a one-million-cedi upfront fee.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways, after expressing surprise over the allegation, referred the issue to EOCO for investigation, noting that the processes leading to the award of road contracts are “open, transparent, competitive and in accordance with the law.”
“Given that the alleged conduct borders on the commission of crime against the Republic, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has today, October 23, 2023, requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to fully investigate the allegations,” the Ministry said in a press statement.
However, in a statement issued over the weekend, the Roads and Highways Ministry stated that EOCO has dismissed the accusation as baseless and unmeritorious.
According to the statement, EOCO in a letter dated March 21, 2024 indicated to the ministry the conclusion of the investigation and determined that, “From the totality of the available information to the office, Prof. Stephen Adei’s comments were found to be unfortunate and general within the context of perceived corruption in the country.”
It said EOCO disposed of the matter as “unsubstantiated and highly presumptuous.”
“The Ministry is fully satisfied with the outcome of the investigation and wishes to reiterate its commitment to transparency and due process in the award of contracts,” the statement concluded.
By Ernest Kofi Adu