Takoradi 'Muntaka' Encores Deals

Takoradi — BARELY days after President John Evans Atta Mills had warned that his administration would not countenance any misconduct by any of the newly sworn in Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives, and brandished the sword of retribution on any errant executive, the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan (STMA) Chief Executive, Mr. Kobina Anan Prah, aka Marlon, has been caught in the web by the procurement laws of the country.

The MCE, who is now referred to by some people in Takoradi the oil city, as 'Tadi-Muntaka', according to this paper's investigation failed to follow the due procurement process and allegedly awarded a contract for the renovation of his official bungalow, which is running to about GH¢ 50,000 to Kings Furniture, one of the wood working companies in the country.

Information received by this reporter, with further checks from some members of the Assembly, revealed that a sudden opening of the sluice gates of money has seized the otherwise impecunious man, who only a few months ago was struggling to have his posters printed for him from his down-market residence in New Takoradi.

Chronicle gathered that when he assumed office, he quickly demanded that his office, which was used by the immediate past humble MCE, Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, be furnished at the expense of the Assembly which was carried out in earnest at a cost of GH¢ 50,000 and borne by the Assembly. His second step was the intended renovation of his official bungalow. The MCE, according to Chronicle investigations, allegedly used his powers as the chairman of the tender board of the Assembly to award the contract to Kings Furniture again, for the renovation of the official residence.

Mr. Anan Prah confirmed to this reporter that he has furnished his office and is also trying to furnish and renovate his official bungalow. "I only asked the Assembly to change the table and chair in my office", he confirmed the office renovation work. Pressed to mention the cost involved, he declined to get into details.

In the case of the official residence, the MCE said he did not feel safe in his current residence as the MCE, and therefore asked the assembly to quickly renovate the bungalow for him to relocate.

Though reliable sources within the Assembly confirmed to the paper that the Assembly did not award the contract, the MCE disagreed and revealed that three companies put in bids, which Kings Furniture won.

He mentioned Sotomens construction as one of the other companies that joined the bidding process, but failed to mention the other one because he could not immediately remember the name.

Chronicle's independent investigations, however, revealed that Sotomens Construction is a construction firm, and not a furniture company linked to the yet to be renovated official bungalow

Popularly known in Takoradi as Marlon, Mr. Anan Prah stunned this reporter with the revelation that Sotomens construction bidded with over GH¢60,000 and the other company which name he could not readily remember came second with more than GH¢50,000 bid, while Kings furniture, the company that he said won the bid came with GH¢49,000 which in his view was on the low side, but had to be considered by the board.

Hours later, when this reporter contacted the Metro Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Clement Danduri, who is also the Secretary to the tender board, to comment on the subject, he flatly denied knowledge of a contract being awarded to any contractor, sharply contradicting the position of his chief executive, who mentioned to the paper that Kings furniture was the company that won the bid.

Mr. Danduri was emphatic in making his point: "Nobody has awarded a contract to any company, we have not yet concluded the award of contract for any project," he added.

The MCD stated that the tender board was still in the bidding process and that there were other procedures that they had to follow, which includes evaluation, a decision to be referred to a committee for the award of the contract.

Asked to comment on the position of the MCE that the contract had already been awarded to Kings Furniture, he maintained that -"the whole process is still ongoing"

When this reporter quoted figures and companies that reportedly bidded as the MCE claimed, he responded by saying -"Honestly, when I leave the tender meetings, I don't keep figures and names." Mr. Danduri also confirmed that indeed the Assembly had in the past been dealing with Kings Furniture. He however opposed the position of the MCE that the contract had already been awarded to Kings Furniture for execution.

When Kings Furniture was contacted by this reporter, they confirmed that they had put in their quotation, but could not give details except to refer this reporter to the marketing manager of the company, Mr. Dan Akito, but the manager would not pick calls made to his phone, despite an earlier promise that he was at a meeting and would call back.