OccupyGhana threatens gov't with court over error ridden brochure

Pressure Group, Occupy Ghana has issued a three-day ultimatum for government to provide details on the bogus Ghana@59 brochure which cost the state GHc450,000 or face their wrath.

The group says it is not satisfied with the decision to just dismiss the acting Director of

the Information Service Department over the scandal since according to them, there is more to the scandal than Ghanaians have been told.

“As citizens of this country, we are not satisfied that this is the end of the matter.

We believe that there is more to this matter than meets the eye, and that there is more information that the people of Ghana deserve to have, with respect to this matter.

We are fortified in this belief by Article 21(1)(f) of the Constitution which provides that “[a]ll persons shall have the right to… information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.”

The group in a statement made a number of demands including the disclosure of the identity of company or companies that printed the brochure.

1. Which company or companies was/were invited to submit bids for the publishing, production and/or printing of the Brochures?

May we have copies of any relevant letters or other communication?

2. Were any quotations received from the company or companies, and if so, may we have copies of such quotations and their covering letters, if any?

3. Which public procurement procedure was adopted in selecting the winning bid? If it

was single-source procurement was the approval of the Public Procurement Authority (“PPA”) sought? May we have a copy of any letter requesting approval and all attachments to it?

4. Was the PPA’s approval obtained, and if so, may we have a copy of any letter to that

effect?

5. Was a contract entered into with the company with the winning bid, and if so, may we have a copy of the signed contract?

6. Has the Ministry of Finance been requested to release funds for payment to the company with the winning bid, and if so, may we have a copy of any such letter?

7. Did the Ministry of Finance approve of any payment in writing, and if so, may we have a

copy of that written approval?

8. Have any payments been were made to the company that undertook the transaction, and when? May we have copies of all the usual, relevant documents, including, but not limited to:

(i) request for payment by the Ministry,

(ii) release letter from the Ministry of Finance,

(iii) Controller and Accountant-General’s letter to the Bank of Ghana for payment,

(iv) payment advice from Bank of Ghana, and

(v) any payment vouchers issued?

9. Were any taxes paid or withheld, as the case may be, particularly with respect to withholding tax, value added tax and the national health insurance levy, and if so, may we have copies of any relevant invoices?

Occupy Ghana asked that they be furnished with answers within three (3) working days of the date of the letter, failing which they will consider suing.

Story by: Michael Greg Afful

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