Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has urged the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to speed up investigations on former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei.
It, however, lauded the Commission for Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for the move in instituting sanctions against the former PPA boss.
“GII commends CHRAJ for a dispassionate and thorough work done and calls on OSP and EOCO to fast track the criminal investigations aspect of this case and where culpability is established, the law should be made to go its full length to serve as a deterrent to all public officials entrusted with the responsibility of providing public service and managing our national resources,” the GII disclosed in a statement.
According to the GII, “it has no doubt that, if enforcement and compliance of the various accountability laws and sanctions are effectively implemented, Ghana will be able to save most of the resources lost to corruption.”
The GII, also disclosed that Adjenim Boateng, has been disqualified by CHRAJ from holding public office for the next 10 years.
He has been directed to declare his assets in accordance with the Public Office Holder (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550) within 3 months of the date of CHRAJ’s decision.
Mr. Adjenim Boateng, has also been directed to refund to the state, an amount of GHC5,697,530.00 (less GHC86,000.00) within 6 months of the date of CHRAJ’s decision.
This represents the unexplained wealth deposited in his account.
This came in the wake of fresh findings made by CHRAJ following a petition submitted by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) to the Commission on 4th October, 2019 after the “Contract for Sale” esposé by Manesseh Awuni Azure in 2019.
The Commission has since banned Adjenim Boateng Adjei, from holding public office for the next 10 years.
Mr. Adjei is also to refund GH¢5,697,530 within six months to the State and within three months declare his assets in accordance with the Public Office Holder (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).
This follows a petition filed by anti-graft firm GII over the investigative documentary by Manasseh Azure Awuni Contracts for sale which exposed how Mr. Adjei established a company to which contracts were diverted.
The company, Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), incorporated in June 2017, won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering with monies accrued sitting in the personal bank account of the former PPA boss.
GII had in September 2019 petitioned the commission to investigate if Mr. Adjei and other board members of the PPA acted criminally in setting up a company, TDL which allegedly sold government contracts.
In CHRAJ’s findings, Mr. Adjei, was said to have put himself in a conflict of interest position, abused his office on two occasions and failed to declare his assets as required by Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution.
The Commission also concluded that Mr. Adjenim together with a former member of the PPA board, Dr Emmanuel Yaw Boakye, are guilty of conflict of interest.
CHRAJ, has also disqualified the former PPA Board Chairman, Professor Douglas Boateng from being appointed as Chair or member of any public board, Council or Commission for a period of not less than two years.
