The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has concluded investigations into a claim made by Prof. Stephen Adei over the award of contracts at the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
The former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) had alleged that contracts at the Ministry was shrouded with alleged organised crime.
The Professor had alleged in October 2023 that persons seeking contracts were demanded to pay an upfront bribe of GHC1 million before they are awarded the contracts.
Although portions of Prof. Adei’s allegations stemmed from a pronouncement made by the then Roads Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta himself, the Ministry denied the claims, indicating that its contracts were transparent, competitive, and adhere to legal requirements.
According to the former minister, the staff in his ministry were so corrupt that an attempt of changing them to resolve the problem made matter worse.
“There are a lot of corrupt people, there are a lot of thieves in my ministry. You sack them, you employ new ones, and when they come, the new ones are even worse than the old ones that you sacked.
“I don’t know what people want. We will die and leave everything behind. All of us, those who came before on are all gone. We heard the big names, people with money and wealth, where are they? Look at what we are seeing and we are citizens of this country,” he complained.
Meanwhile, the Ministry, following the Professor’s allegations requested a probe by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
The report, given by EOCO, described Prof. Adei’s claims as “unsubstantiated and highly presumptuous.”
It said Professor Adei’s comments were an oversimplification of the Ministry’s tender process and potentially influenced by a broader perception of corruption in the country, as referenced in a 2022 UNODC report.
The report further indicates that the Professor only used the Ministry of Roads and Highways for illustrative purposes having failed to substantiate a supposed claim by a friend who mentioned the alleged bribery requirement at the Ministry.
EOCO, following the investigations, closed the matter, deeming the allegations unsubstantiated.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways welcomed the investigation’s outcome in a press statement issued Friday, April 12, 2024, stating that EOCO concluded Professor Adei’s comments were “unfortunate and general” and that the matter is now “disposed off.”
The Ministry said it was going to insist on transparency and due process in awarding of contracts.
Stop directing people to attack critics of your corrupt deeds – Prof. Adei to public officials
