A member of the National Democratic Congress, NDC Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has labelled the Ministry of Public Procurement headed by Sarah Adwoa Safo as a ‘waste’ of taxpayers’ monies.
According to him, the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo has no requisite knowledge in the procurement process.
Mr Tamakloe justified his argument that although Sarah Adwoa Safo is the Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement, she cannot overturn any deal whether fraudulent or not agreed on by the board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Speaking to TV3 today August 28, 2019, Mr Tamakloe said: “You have a minister in charge of procurement. Can she disallow a procurement allowed by the [Public] Procurement [Authority] Board? No.
“What actually is the value Adwoa Safo’s ministry is adding to the government?â€he quizzed.
Finally, Mr Tamakloe said that the ministry is, therefore, a burden on the ordinary Ghanaian and just another 'waste of tax-payers’ money by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
PPA CEO exposé
Investigations by freelance investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, revealed that Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), a company incorporated in June 2017, has won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering.
Manasseh Azure Awuni has also confirmed that the company was engaged in selling contracts. Undercover encounters with the General Manager of the Company, Thomas Amoah, revealed that the company was selling a ¢22.3 million road contract to K-Drah Enterprise, a fake company Manasseh used for the investigation.
Following the latest investigation, President Akufo-Addo suspended from office the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei.Â
There have been calls by civil society groups and political parties that suspension of the PPA boss is not enough.
However, a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, a.k.a Kabila has joined a number of people calling for the dissolution of the entire board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Mr Bomfeh commended President Akufo-Addo for suspending the PPA boss but urged him to also dissolve the board since they are also complicit.
Again, the Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Linda Ofori-Kwafo says she and her outfit will push for the suspension of the board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) following the latest investigative piece by freelance journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
Meanwhile, flagbearer of the opposition NDC, John Dramani Mahama says some government appointees of the Akufo-Addo led administration is 'unnecessary charge on the public purse'.
The former President challenged President Akufo-Addo to immediately cut the size of his government by about 40 Ministers and Deputy Ministers. He said this will bring efficiency by reducing government expenditure and help balance the budget.
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