Adjenim Boateng Adjei
The
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says it has given
Adjenim Boateng Adjei (AB Adjei), who has been suspended by the President as
head of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), 10 days to respond to conflict
of interest allegations levelled against him.
The
PPA CEO was suspended following a documentary titled ‘Contracts for Sale’ which
was put together by investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni,
highlighting alleged procurement misconduct.
CHRAJ
Boss Joseph Whittal said on Citi FM yesterday that the response from AB Adjei
would determine the next line of action of the commission.
“We
had a brainstorming session yesterday. We have assessed the case and we came to
the conclusion that it is right for Mr. Adjenim Boateng to give us his comments
and to either admit or deny the allegation. He has been given ten days within
which to expressly write his response and any documentation that he would want us
to see,” he said.
“We
will study that and carry out our own investigation if necessary; then we’ll
proceed to invite him if he has not admitted it. If he admits, we will go
straightforward and take action based on his information but if he denies it,
the Constitution requires us to go into full investigation and take action,” he
added.
Following
the exposé by Manasseh Azure Awuni, President Akufo-Addo suspended the PPA boss
and referred him to both the CHRAJ and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
A
letter signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications
at the Presidency last 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.”
Investigative
journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, in an exposé titled ‘Contracts for Sale’, was
able to reveal that Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), a company incorporated in
June 2017 that has links with the PPA boss, 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 & 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.
The revelation has rekindled heated political debate as far as the fight against corruption in the country is concerned.
Gibril Abdul Razak
