Bankswitch Judgement Debt Saga: Spio-Garbrah Tackles Critics

Minister of Trade, Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah has said his decision to request Destination Inspection Company’s(DIC’s)to contribute towards the payment of the Bankswitch Judgment debts for juicy government contracts was in the best interest of the country and aimed at protecting the public purse.

Dr Spio-Gabrah in a reactions to reports in the media that his NDC government was blackmailing DICs to pay Ghc197 million judgement debt dared his critics to show which law in the country has been broken in asking Destination Inspection Companies to pay for the debts in return for contracts.

"Which law has been broken here? Cite the law which I have offended. Have I stolen something or paid illegal money... I am working in broad day light with as much transparency and as open as possible," Spio Gabrah said on Radio Gold Monday.
The minister has come under fire for writing to five Destination Inspection Companies to pay an amount of $35 million each to help defray a judgement debt of some 197 million cedis owed to Bankswitch.

A letter signed by the trade minister asked the DIC’s with the capacity to contribute US$35 million each towards repaying the judgement debts to assist government. However, a member of Parliament (MP)for Abuakwa south , Samuel Atta Akyea has described the letter as filthy based on the fact that , the move “ is a veil form of bribery because government cannot seek to solve its problems by inducing companies through monetary donations in the form of contracts. “ what is even worse is that you wouldn’t even want to respect the procurement act and process and that there will be no competitive bidding and you will give it to them because they did your bidding.” He said

But the Minister has defended his action and reiterated the point that the debt was caused by some "evil politicians."
The company signed a contract in 2007 under the erstwhile New Patriotic Party government to innovate a technology that would seal the loopholes at the country's ports which have led to the country losing several millions of dollars. However when the NDC government came into power, the contract with Bankswitch was abrogated. The company took the matter to the international arbitration and was awarded a judgement debt of some 197 million cedis.

According to Spio-Gabrah Bankswitch has already been paid 200million cedis but certain people are still plotting to run the country by demanding an extra 1billion cedis, an amount that could easily be used to fund the building of schools, roads etc.

That is "totally unconscionable," he said adding his outfit had to devise a means of stopping this 1 billion cedis from being paid, hence the decision to ask the DICs to intervene. Meanwhile, a whistleblower Kudzo Akpabey who had first hand information on the transaction with Bankswitch said those who abrogated the contract must be prosecuted.

The company signed a contract in 2007 under the erstwhile New Patriotic Party government to innovate a technology that would seal the loopholes at the country's ports which have led to the country losing several millions of dollars. However when the NDC government came into power, the contract with Bankswitch was abrogated. The company took the matter to the international arbitration and was awarded a judgement debt of some 197 million cedis.