Cloud Over ?810m Contract

... Tender Board bypassed

An investigative team set up by the Finance and Administration sub-committee of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) to investigate the award of three contracts by the assembly has completed its job.

The committee members, Daniel Titus Glover, chairman; Noah Asamoah, J.K. Appiah and Madam Jennifer, members, were tasked to enquire into modalities used in the award of the ?810 million contract to fumigate the Kpone refuse dump.

The other two assignments are computerisation of the billing system and revaluation of property by the municipal assembly.

Investigations revealed that the assembly awarded the ?810 million Kpone refuse dump fumigation contract to a company, namely Victombet, without going through the municipal tender board.

Revelations are that between December 13, last year and April 15, this year - five months - a separate payment was effected by the assembly to Victombet, representing ?9 million jobs fortnightly.

A number of officials from various sections at the assembly appeared before the committee and were made to answer questions.

Some recommendations made by the team include sanctions against the municipal chief executive, municipal finance officer and the co-ordinating director.

Also recommended was 50% refund of the total amount paid to Victombet as excess. Key personalities at the assembly this reporter attempted speaking to were tight-lipped over the issue.

Among them is the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Honourable Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, whose relationship with the TMA has been sour since the coming to office of the Chief Executive, Mr. Evans Ashong Narh.

The Member of Parliament for Tema East and Minister of Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, Hon. Ishmael Ashietey, who was critical on the TEXPO issue, could not be immediately reached for his reaction.