‘Ford Explorer gift to Mahama: No conflict of interest’
The government has denied a Joy FM report that President John Dramani Mahama personally received a brand new Ford Explorer vehicle from a Burkinabe contractor who was awarded two contracts by the Ghana government.
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An official statement, issued by the Ministry of Communications yesterday and signed by the sector minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said the vehicle, which the radio station alleged was given as a gift to the President, had no link with any contract.
It further explained that the vehicle was placed in the vehicle pool of the Presidency in line with established convention.
“The inference of conflict of interest is, therefore, absolutely false and untenable,” it said.
Joy FM report
In the report, the Accra-based radio station said the construction firm was awarded the contract for the construction of a perimetre fence on a parcel of land belonging to the Ghana Embassy in Ouagadougou, and the construction of a section of the Eastern-Corridor road.
It quoted Mr Djibril Kanazoe Freres, the President and Director-General of Groupe Kanazoe, the first construction firm, as admitting to giving the vehicle to the President.
According to the radio station , when its reporter, who conducted the investigations into the matter, asked the Burkinabe contractor what the President did for him to be given the 2010 model Ford Explorer, the contractor replied, “He is my friend.”
The report also quoted the then Ghana’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, Chief Dauda Mahdiaya Bawumiah, as admitting that he accompanied the vehicle from Ouagadougou to Bolgatanga, where he handed it over to the then Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, to be delivered to President Mahama.
The radio station made reference to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) description of the $656,246.48 contract sum for the construction of the fence wall as “outrageous.”
Joy FM also alleged that the procurement process for the project was breached to favour Mr Kanazoe.
On the road project, the report said the award of the contract to Kanazoe raised questions, since it was the same contractor who donated the Ford Explorer to the President.
Response
But, in a response, the statement said, “The said vehicle, which was placed in the vehicle pool at the Presidency, as per established convention, had nothing to do with the award of the contracts.”
Facts
Giving details on the construction works at the Ghana Embassy in Ouagadougou, the statement said the 353,136,603 CFA contract awarded to Mr Kanazoe Freres of Burkina Faso, involved the construction of a perimetre fence wall on a large parcel of land allocated to the Ghana government.
“The processes for the construction of a perimetre fence wall on a large parcel of land allocated to the government of Ghana began in 2011, prior to President John Mahama becoming President.
“The scope of construction works on the 673.0 metres long-fence wall involved the removal of topsoil, clearing of existing rice farm and compensation to owners in accordance with Burkinabe laws; reinforced concrete wall with an overall thickness of 300mm and an average height of 220mm above ground and 80mm below ground.”
Besides, it said, the mid-section of the wall involved a reinforced 12mm diametre high tensile steel at 450mm centres both ways, while there was also the construction of security posts with visitors waiting area, among other things.
According to the ministry, three quotations from construction companies for the contract were forwarded by the Ghana’s mission in Burkina Faso to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for consideration.
“The quotations from the respective companies were as follows:KANAZOE FRERES: 353,136,603 CFA; COSITRAP: 413, 177, 892 CFA; IBOUS: 462, 608, 949 CFA,” the statement said.
Post-contract consultancy
The statement went further to state that Ghana’s Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) provided pre- and- post contract consultancy services on the project.
The services involved architectural, structural, land surveying, quantity-surveying services leading to preparation of technical specification, bills of quantities and tender documents, evaluation of tenders, award of contract and supervision of selected contractor to execute the construction works.
“Upon due diligence, the contract was awarded to KANAZOE FRERES, who presented the lowest figure among the three companies.
“There was no involvement whatsoever of the President in the processes leading up to the award of this contract. Any suggestion, therefore, to the contrary is palpably false and untenable,” it stated.
Road project
The statement said the project in question was the 46.4km European Union-funded Dodo-Pepesu road contract.
“The award of this contract was the result of an international competitive-bidding process which was in compliance with laid down requirements of the European Union. There was absolutely no involvement of the President in the processes leading to the award of this contract.
“Again, any suggestion of conflict of interest in the award of this contract is without merit,” the ministry said.
Transparency
The statement reiterated the President’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The President remains committed to transparency and accountability in governance and has worked over the past years to make that a cornerstone of his administration. That commitment is unwavering,” it said.