The Herald has uncovered massive rot at the Ghana Investment Fund for
Electronic Communications (GIFEC), following undercover investigations
conducted at the state institution, which is under the Communications
Ministry.
This paper’s investigations, unearthed procurement breaches and
conflict of interest situations at GIFEC, leading to the loss of a
whopping amount of GHc1. 170 million, paid to some four companies for no
work done.
The loss occurred in September 2017, when GIFEC, which has the Minister
of Communications, Ursula Owusu, as its Board Chairperson, awarded a
GHC4 million supply contract to the four companies, through a shady
procurement process.
The companies, A comp Service Limited, Energonex Limited, Prudmen
Company Limited and Power World Limited, were to supply some 2,000 Wewi
brand Solar Laptops at a cost of GHC4 million, but two years have passed
and not even a single computer, has been delivered to the offices of
GIFEC, which is headed by Abraham Kofi Asante.
In line with the contract terms, a total of GHC1. 170 million was paid
to the four suppliers as an advance mobilization, however, for two
years, not a single computer, has been supplied by any of the four
companies, leaving behind speculations that the money might have been
cashed and shared by the various actors in the transaction.
Interestingly, documents obtained from the Registrar General’s
Department revealed multiple connections between the companies. The
directors are either the same or the companies share the same addresses,
with the same insurance company, guaranteeing the transactions.
For instance, Prudmen Company Limited has Sedorfia Kudzo Ahorsu and
Jason Akuetteh Addo as its directors, while Power World Limited,= has
Sariel Adobea Entwire and Andrew Kobina Etwire as its directors.
Interestingly, Energone-X Limited has Sedofia Kudzo Ahorsu and Andrew
Kobina Entwire as directors, meaning the beneficiaries of the GH4
million supply contract knew themselves.
The dates of the incorporation of the companies were also suspicious. Some appeared backdated.
The contract documents, copies of which are in the possession of The
Herald, clearly stated in clause 5 that, the goods should be delivered
to the GIFEC office within 8 weeks after signing of the contract.
Failure to deliver within the stated period shall attract a sum
0.5percent of the contract price of the delayed goods for each week of
delay, until final delivery up to a maximum deduction of 10percent of
the delayed goods contract price.
Instructively, the contracts require that once the maximum deduction of
10percent is reached, the purchaser should consider termination of the
arrangement.
Curiously, this arrangement has not been adhered to by the GIFEC
management, raising serious eyebrows about the complicity of the
management led by Abraham Kofi Asante, in the whole process.
Background investigations done by The Herald on the companies, present
very interesting revelations. They appear to be one and the same company
with insignificant differences.
For instance, the dates covering the Insurance Bonds supporting the
bids of the four companies are the same with the similar validity
periods and expiration. The bond came from Donewell Insurance Company
Limited and valid from September 22, 2017, to December 21, 2017.
Strangely, all the four companies, have not since September 2017, been
able to supply their computers, raising further suspicions about the
coincidence. It is not clear, if GIFEC, made any effort to get its
GHC1.170 million back from Donewell Insurance Company per the Insurance
Guarantees provided the companies.
For instance, Prudmen Limited had obtained a GHC364, 500, 00 from
Donewell Insurance Company per the Insurance Guarantees provided the
companies. Energone –X Limited, also got GHC337, 500.00 Insurance
Guarantee from Donewell Insurance.
A Comp Service Limited, which has Aaron Kwaku Oduro, Mardea Neehwor
Oduro, as directors and George Brown-Tetteh and the Shareholders as
Aaron Kwaku Oduro and George Brown-Tetteh, also got Insurance Guarantee
from Donewell Insurance. This company was also paid GHC558, 000.00 as
contract sum.
Receipts issued by some of the companies have also been seen by The Herald acknowledging the payments.
But the failure on the part of all four companies to supply laptops
further supports accusations that someone or a group of people, had
conspired to siphon money from state coffers into their private pockets.
Further investigations suggest, insider dealings during the procurement
process, therefore, the basic due diligence that were to be carried
out, were deliberately ignored all in a bid to select these companies
owned by the same individuals.
It was reported that the officer-in-charge of Procurement, one Abednego
Mingle, raised issues with the transaction, but was ignored by
management.
Additional documents available to The Herald revealed that one Abraham
Kofi Asante on the same day; August 21, 2017, wrote to all the companies
accepting the prices they had quoted in their tender documents which
were also coincidentally dated July 25, 2017.
The July 25, 2017, document showed Energone-X, got paid GHC843, 750.00 by Abraham Kofi Asante.
Ideally, the solar computer should have been piloted to appreciate how
it works, quality and fit for purpose. But this was not done ahead of
the transaction, leading to the procurement of the 2000 pieces.
Indeed, technicians at the GIFEC, are said not to have had any contact
with the solar Laptop computers, hence would be found wanting in the
event of technical challenges.
Details of the companies awarded GHC4 million include;
A COMP SERVICES LTD
Directors: 1. AARON KWAKU ODURO
MARDEA NEEHWOR ODURO Secretary: GEORGE BROWN- TETTEH
Shareholders: 1. AARON KWAKU ODURO
GEORGE BROWN- TETTEH
POWERWORLD LIMITED
Directors: 1. ANDREW KOBINA ETWIRE
SARIEL ADOBEA ETWIRE GILBERT CARSON
Secretary: SARIEL ADOBEA ETWIRE
Shareholders: 1. ANDREW KOBINA ETWIRE
SARIEL ADOBEA ETWIRE
ENERGONEX LIMITED
Directors: 1. ANDREW KOBINA ETWIRE
SEDOFIA KUDZO AHORSU
Secretary: STANLEY SELASIE KWESI KPLEMI
Shareholders: 1. ANDREW KOBINA ETWIRE
SEDOFIA KUDZO AHORSU
PRUDMEN COMPANY LIMITED
Directors: 1. SEDOFIA KUDZO AHORSU
JASON AKUETTEH ADDO
Secretary: JASON AKUETTEH ADDO
Shareholders: 1. SEDOFIA KUDZO AHORSU
JASON AKUETTEH ADDO
More to come!
