The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what it describes as a lack of transparency and fairness in the process that resulted in Engineers and Planners Limited being declared the successful bidder for the Damang Gold Mine.
The concerns follow the announcement that Engineers and Planners Limited emerged as the sole company to meet all the technical and financial requirements set by the tender committee for the acquisition of the Damang Gold Mine.
While the outcome has been defended by some as a reflection of the company’s capacity, members of the Minority insist that the process leading to the decision raises serious red flags that must be addressed.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, questioned the speed and structure of the entire procurement process, suggesting that it may not have allowed for adequate scrutiny or competitive participation.
“The same ministry goes ahead in doing that job on behalf of the President, sets up a committee with agencies appointed directly by the minister to oversee these processes and executes these processes just under four days. And you find this as going through a proper transparent and fair manner?
“You see, local participation is something that we all encourage but the process must be above par. That is what we look for, not anything. It must be so open such that any other person could put in a fortified bid. In this one, the person and the object are so bad that they do not speak well of us.”
According to the Minority, the timeline within which the process was conducted raises questions about whether all necessary due diligence procedures were followed.
They argue that a procurement exercise of such magnitude, particularly involving a strategic national asset like a gold mine, should be subjected to rigorous evaluation, extensive consultation, and a competitive bidding framework that inspires confidence among stakeholders.
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