Court orders AG to release Smarttys contract

A Human Rights court has ordered the Attorney General to release “unconditionally” contract documents on the controversial Smarttys bus re-branding deal.

Smarttys dominated the headlines a few months ago when it came public that it has overbilled the government in a Gh¢3.6 million deal meant to brand 116 Metro Mass Transit Buses. The overpricing came to the tune of GH¢1.9 million.

The branding of the new Huanghai buses for the MMT with portraits of President John Mahama and past presidents caused public outcry, resulting in the resignation of the Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, in December.

Following the public outcry, the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, directed the Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah Opong to recover GH¢1.9million from Smarttys.

The Attorney General presented her report on December 22, 2015 directing the refund of money found to have been overpaid to Smarttys in the contract.

Seven Ghanaians being led by one Francis Kennedy Ocloo went to court to demand the contract documents.

Presiding over the case on Wednesday, Justice Anthony Yeboah said “Ghanaians deserve to know the details of the contract government entered into with Smarttys.”

Smarttys has since refunded the money to government.