Various contractors, who won contracts under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration, through sole -sourcing, are facing tough times with the Nana Akufo-Addo government.
The contractors, according to The Herald’s information, have been dragged to the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) for investigation.
They have been ordered by the administration to periodically visit the EOCO office in Accra for interrogation and answer questions about how they won their various contract through sole sourcing, instead of competitive bidding.
Sources say, the contractors who are not happy about the directive, as some see it as political harassment of some sort, have reluctantly obliged and are honouring the order from the investigative body.
They are among others required to provide certificate of contracts and other documents, including their tax obligations to EOCO.
In the heat of the 2016 campaign, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) then in opposition, served notice it will review and look into sole sourced contracts awarded by the Mahama government, and amend those which ought to be amended in the interest of value for money.
The EOCO investigation, according to sources, is to ascertain whether or not, the state was not shortchanged
The NPP, while in opposition, accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of abusing the provision in the Procurement Act for personal gains.
It said the Mahama government was using the procurement tool to engage in corrupt practices, hence the need to investigate their suspicion for criminal prosecution if need be.
Boakye Agyarko, then Policy Advisor to NPP’s flag bearer, who is now the Energy Minister, in an interview with Adabraka based Citi FM said, government’s decision to procure goods and services through sole sourcing, had resulted in the country getting bad competitive rates.
The NPP, linked the practice of sole sourcing to many of the corruption allegations against the Mahama government at the time.
For instance, the chairman of the Appointment Committee Parliament (PAC), who is now the Minister for Health, Kweku Agyeman Manu, asked the government to stop the practice in awarding contracts for national projects, arguing that sole sourcing was the root cause of most of the corruption scandals that hit the Mahama government.
It is not yet clear, if EOCO, has found something suspicious to satisfy their curiosity.
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