By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Several road contractors in Ghana have vehemently denied the allegations made by Professor Stephen Adei, the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), suggesting that contractors pay a staggering amount of 1 million cedis in exchange for securing road contracts.
In response to these claims, they have not only refuted the accusations but have also expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in a thorough investigation into Professor Adei’s allegations.
In a press statement released by a group of road contractors, they clarified that none of them has ever encountered such a demand for an upfront payment of GH¢1 million.
They further explained that the process of awarding road contracts is well-documented and transparent, which makes it challenging for corrupt practices to occur in the allocation of these contracts.
The group of contractors who endorsed the press statement include 1st 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, among others.
“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 wish to state clearly that none of us has had any such experience. Road contracts go through a process until the award is given.
The process is well-known and transparent and consequently makes it very difficult for corrupt practices to prevail in the allocation of road contracts.
We wish to allay the concerns of Professor Adei and the general public and emphatically state that no such bribes are paid for road contracts in Ghana,” portions of the statement read.
Professor Adei raised these concerns during an interview last week, asserting that individuals pursuing road contracts are often confronted with the demand for a substantial upfront payment of 1 million cedis.
The Ministry of Roads, responding to these allegations noted that it found them surprising, emphasizing that the processes involved in awarding road contracts are characterized by transparency, competitiveness, and adherence to legal procedures.
In light of the alleged criminal nature of these actions, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, made an official request to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
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