The Transport Ministry and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) are being summoned by Parliament's Roads and Transport Committee over the contentious Christmas trees used to adorn the airport last year.
This is according to Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Committee's Ranking Member.
The differing statements from the Ministry and the Airport Company, according to the Adaklu MP, raises suspicions about the matter.
He stated that a doubt can only be settled if both institutions are summoned at the same time.
"It simply casts suspicion on whether someone is attempting to cover up something that has been done incorrectly in a shoddy manner."
"The Committee is in the process of requesting the Ministry of Transportation to join the airport firm so that they may work together." Mr. Agbodza stated, "We can collect the facts about what transpired."
He went on to say that the Committee is now undecided on which of the replies to believe.
"It will be extremely difficult to identify who is not speaking the truth until we meet with the Ministry and Board of the Ghana Airports Company, as well as the Management," the MP continued.
The Ministry's disclosure contradicted GACL Board Chairman Paul Adom-earlier Otchere's declaration that "two independent vendors were asked to submit bids." Discounts were negotiated once the bids were discussed."
The Ministry also said that the "Christmas decorations in question" for 2021 were rented rather than purchased, as the GACL Board Chairman had earlier asserted.
The Ministry of Transport's discoveries are included in a response to a right to information (RTI) request submitted by one Redeemer Buatsi to GACL in January 2021, which was seen by The Fourth Estate.
It is for this reason that Parliament has been summoned.
Background
The GACL was accused of spending over GHC128,000 on Christmas trees and decorations earlier this year, but the company's Board Chairman reacted within hours.
Leaked proforma invoices from two businesses where the services were bought broke the news about the procurement.
The two bills were sent to the GACL, with one of them mentioning Paul Adom-Otchere, the Board Chairman.
Jandel Limited sent a proforma invoice for GHC38,775 for "Terminal 3 Arrival Hall (a decorated Christmas tree with lights), lighting décor on the trees around the lawn, and decoration of existing trees."
Favors & Arts also submitted a proforma invoice for GHC90,500 for the rental of a Christmas chandelier with lights.
The GACL and "Mr Paul Adom-Otchere" were the recipients of the pro forma invoice from Favors and Arts.
This sparked widespread outrage, with social media critics criticizing the GACL's corporate governance mechanisms for allowing the state-owned company's board chairman to be personally engaged in the buying of Christmas decorations.
blogpay
