In Ghana, no bribes are paid for road contracts; Road contractors applaud EOCO’s investigations
A group of Ghanaian road contractors has stated that they are willing to assist the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in looking into claims made by Professor Stephen Adei, a former board chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), that there was corruption in the awarding of road contracts at the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Speaking in a television interview last week, Prof Stephen Adei, who is also a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), said he has information to the effect that persons seeking road contracts are told: “Road contracts will be given to you, provided you pay 1 million upfront…”
Reacting to the allegation in a press statement issued on Monday [Oct 23, 2023], the Ministry of Roads and Highways said, “These allegations are surprising at the least because 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 a 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,” a press statement signed and issued by Nasir Ahmad Yartey, Head of Public Relations, said.
Contractors readiness to work with EOCO
In response to the Ministry’s action after the claim, the contractors issued a press release saying, “We would like to make it very clear that none of us have any experience of this kind. Prior to the award, road contracts go through a process.”
Therefore, the contractors applauded the Ministry of Roads and Highways’ invitation to EOCO to look into the claim in their press release.
“We have followed with keen interest discussions in the media space in respect of an allegation made by Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of GIMPA, to the effect that some contractors make upfront payments of GH¢1 million before the award of road contracts.”
“We have also read a press statement from the Ministry of Roads and Highways indicating that the Minister has requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the allegation.”
“We want to be very clear that none of us have ever experienced anything like this. Prior to the award, road contracts go through a process.
Since the procedure is well-known and open, it is extremely difficult for unethical behavior to take hold when allocating road contracts.
They continued, “We want to reassure the public and Professor Adei that there are no bribes of this kind made for road contracts in Ghana.
First Sky Ltd., Maripoma Ent Ltd., Justimoh Construction Ltd., Resource Access Ltd., Kasmo Co Ltd., Oswald Investment Ltd., Ussuya Gh Ltd., Volta Impex Ltd., and Limerica Gh Ltd. are the contractors who supported the press release.
The others are Mawums Ltd., Kingspock Ltd., Kingdowsco Co. Ltd., Nagfairmont Gh Ltd., General Construction Ltd., Joshop Gh Ltd., Hardwick Ltd., Kofi Job Construction, Memphis Construction Ltd., and New Modern World Ltd.
It is our pleasure to declare that the honorable minister has guided the ministry with integrity and skill. Furthermore, they said, “He has not only ensured true independence and brought discipline to the road construction industry, but he has also purposefully increased local contractors’ capacity to meet international standards.”
“As members of the Road Contractors community, we shall support the work of any investigative body to bring closure to these allegations, even though we have been shocked by them,” they said. As a result, we will be ready to support EOCO upon invitation.”
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