GPHA Boss Spends ¢46m On Redecorating Kitchen

It is absolutely incredible but it is true. The Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah has revealed that the Board of GPHA has spent a whopping ¢46 million in redecorating his private kitchen, at the taxpayers' expense.

The GPHA boss made the revelation in an interview when The Insight called him on his cell phone to react to some allegations levelled against him, including blowing ¢46 million on redecoration of his private kitchen.

Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, who was not 'comfortable' with the trend of questioning when asked for his reaction said; “Please, please, be careful eh? Be careful! GPHA spent money to redecorate my kitchen so go and ask GPHA not me ok?” he said.

When pressed further to elaborate, this is what he had to say, “I did not spend money to decorate my kitchen; GPHA spent money to decorate my kitchen, so if you have any problem, go and ask the GPHA Estate Department but not me.”

When asked to respond to the other allegations, the GPHA boss refused to do so, saying, “I told you I don't want to talk to you about this issue. I don't want to discuss these issues on phone. If you have a problem, come to the office and let's talk.”

Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah is also alleged to have 'prevailed' over the GPHA Board to purchase for him, a generating set, costing over ¢100 million for use in his residence.

A source close to GPHA told The Insight in an interview that the GPHA boss considered the condition of the kitchen very deplorable and so had to “brighten it up to befit his status as the Director-General.”

The source observed that the current “extreme vulgar opulence and excessive extravagance, coupled with reckless plundering of the resources of the GPHA are appalling and every step must be taken to halt these.”

Insiders say the refurbishment of Mr Owusu-Mensah's kitchen was done in stark violation of the GPHA's policy on refurbishment. They contended that the refurbishment had to be put out to tender but this had not been done.
Documents in the custody of The Insight indicate that an amount of ¢46 million was spent on the redecoration of the GPHA boss's kitchen. The Insight can further confirm that the GPHA has purchased a 27KVA Acoustic Diesel Generating set (Automatic) at the cost of over ¢103 million from G & J Technical Services Limited for the private use of the Director-General.
The Insight's investigations have also revealed that the items and accessories used in redecorating the GPHA boss's kitchen were purchased from Akuaba Limited.
In the Monday 7th & Tuesday June, 2004 edition of The Insight, it was reported that the Ministry of Trade and Industry had blown ¢700 million on the renovation of the Minister's (Alan Kyeremanten) bungalow.
The report quoted a letter dated, May 9, 2003, and signed for the Minister by Mr A. S. Bekoe, Director of Finance and Administration which said the Ministry had accepted Messrs Byron Company Limited's (the contractor) bid to complete the project “in two and a half calendar months.”
On Monday 27th September, 2003, The Insight again reported that the Ghana Supply Commission had spent ¢30 million to decorate a brand new Toyota Landcruiser for the comfort of its then Managing Director, Mr Kwame Owusu. The dissipating of the country's resources continues unceasingly. These documents have been published below;