CHRAJ-type Chop-Chop in Parliament

Speaker Stands Accused

• Over multi-million renovation contract

With the almost a national uproar over the recent accommodation scandal that hits the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, one would have thought that heads of key state or public institutions would be extra cautious in the manner in which they handle state resources.

However, intelligence reports available to The aLhAJJ indicate that is not the case, at least in the case of the flamboyant Speaker of the Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho’s handling of ongoing renovation works at the nation’s Legislature.

Months of sleuthing around the corridors of Parliament revealed a tangle web of financial and administrative impropriety involving refurbishing and expansion of the chamber of the nation’s Legislature by a Chinese company, allegedly single-handedly hijacked by the Speaker to the chagrin of the leadership of the house and his former colleagues on both sides of the political divide.

Rt. Hon. Adjaho, who was the first and only speaker to have been elected speaker from among members of Ghana's parliament, is reported to have shrugged off all the criticisms and demands for greater accountability on the renovation works from members of parliament, causing what a senior member of the house told this paper “grave discontent” among all members of the House.

The aL-hAAJ’s investigations revealed, the continued fleecing of the nation’s resources in the ongoing renovation works at the country’s Legislature will pale into insignificance the reported gross indiscretion of the CHRAJ Commissioner, Lauretta Lamptey which led to the nation losing some monies.

Some local contractors who also initially expressed interest in bidding for the contract have also confirmed to this paper they could have easily done the project which run into several millions of Ghana Cedis at a relatively lower and cheaper cost. But speaking to this paper, the Minority Leader and MP for Suame, Hon Kyei Mensah Bonsu, though admitted knowledge to approval given for the commencement of works based on a cedi contract sum (which he didn’t disclosed) which was later indexed to the dollar noted, he was surprised later when he was told the contract sum was rather indexed to Euro. According to him, as far as he recollects, the contract sum approved by the board was indexed in USD to cater for future inflation and fluctuation but to his astonishment, while on his way out of the country some payment documents brought to him for perusal were in EUROS.

He said he had very little to say at that juncture since the Speaker, his colleagues on the Parliamentary board and the project Consultants had already given their approval.

But, a source close to the consultants and the Speaker told this paper that so far as they were concerned the project was priced in Ghana Cedi and indexed in USD. The source claimed they have never used EUROS in the entire transactions as was stated by the Minority Leader.

A deep throat source has also told this paper that an aspect of the renovation contract of the chamber of Parliament which a local contractor said he was prepared to carry out at a cost of $850,000 is now costing the nation over $2 million by the Chinese firm. In what looks like the Chinese contractors through consultants to the project, ADK Consortium, have been provided a blank cheque in as far as the project is concern; this paper has learnt that no one in the august House, both minority and majority sides and even the Public Affairs Department of Parliament know the exact amount of the tax payer’s money being committed into the ongoing renovation works. While the House had sought and secured permission from the Parliamentary Service Board for the project to commence, details of the actual cost involved, work to be done and the quality of work may be only known to the Speaker, the contractors and the consultants as figures and scope of works gleaned by The aL-hAJJ’s investigation has uncovered. The Acting Head of Public Affairs of Parliament, Madam Kate Addo confirmed to The aL-hAJJ that per the orders and recommendation of the Parliamentary Service Board, which is chaired by the Speaker, permission was sought from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to allow the Chinese firm working on the JOB 600 tower block, China State Hualong Construction to execute the refurbishment and expansion of the chamber of the House so as to save time and cost of mobilizing a new contractor to the site, because there was the urgent need for the House to be expanded to properly accommodate the now 275 MPs.

However, according to The aL-hAJJ sources, since the PPA granted the permission for the Chinese firm to execute the project, no one, not even the leadership of the House except the Speaker knows the present and actual amount the Chinese are charging or being paid on the various project. When this paper contacted the newly sworn-in Majority Leader, Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, he said he had just taken over the position and so was yet to be briefed officially on the renovation works.

The former Majority Leader and now Minister of Defense, Hon. Benjamin Kumbour on his part told The aL-hAJJ that he was aware of the approval of the project but before actual commencement of the project he was offered a new position as the Defense Minister by His Excellency, President Mahama. As a result, he pointed out that he was not aware of what happened afterwards.

The project include the lighting system, air conditions, electrical; curtains and general expansion of the seating capacity of the chamber, which was initially designed to accommodate just 230 Members of Parliament but now has to accommodate 275 as a result of the increase in the number of MPs. But, many MPs on both sides of the political divide including the leadership are raising issues of transparency and accountability on the projects and are demanding answers from the Speaker.

Rt. Hon. Adjaho, who before his elevation to the position of Speaker was a Member of Parliament for Akatsi South constituency in the Volta region, according to our source in the House is not cooperating with the MPs on the expansion works, igniting a wave of anger against him in the House. Some MPs have threatened to advise themselves if the Speaker continues to remain recalcitrant on their demands for greater accountability and transparency on the projects.

“We may even go to court to protect the public purse if the need arises because we cannot allow the name of this august House to be brought into disrepute. We are going to emulate the shining example of Mr Martin Amidu in this case, you wait and see, nobody is above the law, not even the President nor the Speaker,” one angry MP told The aL-hAJJ on condition of anonymity. Sources in Parliament have hinted this paper that the situation has brought about a strain in relation between Speaker Doe Adjaho, the House leadership and indeed, his former parliamentary colleagues and could affect the smooth functioning of the august House if not resolved early. Stay tuned for more anon.