Govt discriminating in contract awards ? NDC

...NDC Made Vice President Aliu - Bagbin

The minority National Democratic in Parliament has accused the government of discrimination and favouritism in the award of contracts.

It says, although the former regime was criticised and lambasted for awarding contracts to people with party cards, it can said with a lot of pride that, the vice-president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama (pictured) made his money with which he now boast, with his famous statement that, they (members of the government) unlike their predecessors, came in Pajeros and benz cars, through the NDC.

Answering questions after a minority press conference in Parliament last Wednesday, leader, Alban Bagbin said, ?we made the vice-president who he is today and now they are saying that we in the NDC will not get any contract from them?. He said, Alhaji Mahama, as a Tamale-based contractor benefited from the indiscriminate award of contracts of the NDC government, and he made his money through those contracts.

The same cannot be said of the NPP government, Bagbin said, challenging the government to mention one NDC sympathizer who has won any government contract since it came to power.

He said many acts of corruption, involving many leading members of the NPP, including the vice-president and the National Party Chairman are met with deaf silence from President Kufuor and his government. Bagbin said LIDRA Ltd. a company with alleged links with the vice-president, was involved in irregular auctions in Tamale. He also referred to a memorandum sent to the president from a group calling itself, ?Concerned Citizens of Bolgatanga? dated, October 1 2002.

We publish below the details of the memo to the president unedited.

?We the concerned citizens of the Upper East Region and the National Patriotic Party faithfuls of the ruling government have observed with grave concern the discriminating attitude of the Regional Minister, Mahami Salifu.

Contracts recommended for awards are unduly delayed just because he wants to divert them from genuine qualified and recommended contractors, to his favourites who are not qualified to do the jobs satisfactorily.

This is causing displeasure and anxiety among the people since it retards the progress of the region.

Funds released for these projects are returned to government chest unutilized due to the delay in releasing the award letters just because the recommended bidders are not his favourites.

The region is losing popularity of the ruling government and we appeal to you to act promptly on the issue?. Signed by John Adongo and Frafra Abagna on behalf of the group.

We will not sit down for few disgruntled and selfish government officials to take the people to ransom and act in contrast with the party?s manifesto and discredit the good intention of the government.

We look forward for the end result of this memo.

According to Bagbin this memo and many other issues like the Sahara contract, Ghana Airways, Ghana Telecom, the corruption in Tema Oil Refinery and Currency Printing Contract have been left uninvestigated because of what he called ?selective application of zero tolerance for corruption?.