The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has raised concerns about inflated sole-sourced contracts, which he claims causes the nation to lose billions of cedis.
According to Mr Gyamfi, this practice is significantly harming the country, with the current NPP government neck-deep in it despite criticising the then NDC government while in opposition.
Mr Gyamfi pointed out that both President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s candidates for the 2024 general election, had previously condemned sole sourcing in government procurement. They labelled the practice as corrupt and vowed never to use it.
Speaking at the NDC’s Moment of Truth Series on Wednesday, August 7, Mr Gyamfi reminded Ghanaians of President Akufo-Addo’s declaration on August 23, 2016, stating, “The era of sole sourcing will come to an end under my presidency.” Alhaji Bawumia, on his part, accused President Mahama and the NDC of overpricing contracts through sole sourcing. Bawumia expressed his criticism on Twitter on September 8, 2016, saying, “Overpricing of contracts through sole sourcing is very typical of the John Mahama NDC government.”
Mr Gyamfi further asserted that upon assuming office in 2017, Bawumia stated that his government would curb rampant sole sourcing. He noted that on May 29, 2017, Bawumia was cited by Accra-based Starr FM admonishing government appointees not to abuse sole sourcing. On December 31, 2018, while highlighting the so-called 40 fulfilled promises of the government, Bawumia stated, “We promised to move away from a predominance of sole sourcing to tendering in procurement, and we have delivered.”
He criticised the Akufo-Addo government for wrongly suggesting that sole sourcing inherently means corruption. “We disagree with that position because it is not supported by the law. The truth is that the law allows sole sourcing, but only as an exception and not the general rule,” he stressed.
He added, “Time has once again exposed the dishonesty and duplicity of Alhaji Bawumia, the chronic liar. Bawumia never meant what he said about sole sourcing, and now he and his family have become the biggest beneficiaries of dubious, overpriced sole-sourced contracts under this corrupt, nation-wrecking NPP government.”
Mr Gyamfi alleged that government awarded two juicy cocoa road projects to the Vice President’s brother’s company, Resource Access Limited in the year 2020.
“Contrary to his holier-than-thou rhetoric on sole sourcing in government procurement while in opposition, Bawumia today is the biggest promoter and beneficiary of sole sourcing. As we speak, sole sourcing has become the norm and the most preferred method of procurement for several dubious contracts awarded to relatives and cronies of Vice President Alhaji Bawumia. A number of overpriced sole-sourced contracts have been awarded to a company called Resource Assets Limited, owned and run by Bawumia’s brother, Abraham Bawumia, and his wife.”
Source: myjoyonline.com
