The Local Government and Rural Development Ministry has lashed out at anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem describing him as ignorant of the nation’s procurement laws.
Mr. Azeem has alleged that there were some malpractices in the procurement process and also questioned why government contract should be awarded to Subah InfoSolutions.
But in a communiqué responding to the claims of Mr. Vitus Azeem, the Ministry described the statements on the Subah Infosolutions saga as very regrettable.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Local Government Ministry, Isaac Dupey said the anti-corruption crusader’s comments are sad, to say the least.
‘’It is sad that Mr. Azeem should question why Subah Info-Solutions should be awarded a contract because of alleged controversies surrounding the previous contract. How does that previous experience stop Subah from participating in any other contract? It must be noted that as far as the MLGRD is concerned Subah has not been disqualified by any law in Ghana from participating in the tender. Subah, as all other companies, bided on their own merit and won,’’ the statement said.
The Local Government Ministry noted that Mr. Azeem and other anti-corruption agencies ‘’address themselves to the legal implications of their statements and do proper investigations into matters before they come public’’.
Click to read full statement from the Ministry
Mr. Vitus Azeem, however, in an interview on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue said he stands by his earlier statements.
He said there is evident to show there is no transparency in the award of the contract to Subah Info Solutions.
‘’ I decided to check at the PPA website. The only award of contracts for the procurement of motorcycles by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) were awarded to the Delovely Company Ltd in Accra. The contract was awarded in 4 batches to the tune of GHs 6,351,500.00, about the same amount that the motorcycles in the recent saga are reported to cost,’’ he said.
He expressed worry about why the Info Subah Solutions contract was not on the PPA website. ‘’Does it mean there was no contract? Is it another possibility of a payment for no work done (goods supplied)?,’’ Mr. Azeem quizzed.
Subah Info-Solutions, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies has come under criticism for acquiring contracts from government for areas where they do not have expertise in.
Subah, an I.T company won a contract from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to provide motorbikes for a national street naming exercise.
By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana