Suspended PPA boss was cited for misusing GHC72m in 2003

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It appears the suspended Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority, Adjenim Boateng Adjei has been the subject of scrutiny and investigations in the past as records suggests a 2003 Justice Adade committee set up to investigate a report by the Chief Internal Auditor Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in 2003 recommended he should be prosecuted for misusing public funds. 

According to the report, Mr Ajenim Boateng Adjei and 3 others were recommended prosecution for misusing “an amount of GHC72.5m so they should be investigated and prosecuted for causing financial loss to the state.” 

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, August 22, 2019 suspended from office, with immediate effect, Mr. Adjei after he was unmasked in an exposé over the alleged sale of state contracts. 

Mr. Adjei, per Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni’s latest piece, ‘Contracts for Sale, was said to have established his own company under the name Talent Discovery Limited incorporated in June 2017 which has won some government contracts through restrictive tendering. 

In the 46-minute video, it also emerged that the company was engaged in the sale of contracts and was ready to sell one worth a ¢22.3 million to a non-existent entity during an undercover investigation. 

A statement signed by Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin noted that President Akufo-Addo has subsequently, referred the allegations involving conflict of interest to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and those relating to potential acts of corruption to the Office of Special Prosecutor, for their prompt action. 

Soon after the development it is emerging that Adjei who used to be Chief Manager (materials) at GWCL was marked for prosecution by the Justice Adade Committee of Enquiry. 

The committee which was set up by Kwamena Bartels, the then Minister for Works and Housing, on 12 March 2001 was tasked to investigate a report that certain regions had built up large stocks of printed stationery, contrary to the GWCL board’s directive that such stocks should not be purchased in excess of a year’s requirements of the particular region. 

A publication by the Ghanaian Chronicle said “the government’s position on the Justice Adade Committee of Enquiry into Ghana Water Company Limited had been that monies that were fraudulently taken from the company be recovered from the persons involved-with interest; the perpetrators be dismissed and finally be made to face the law on charges of causing financial loss to the state. 

“Prominent among those recommended by the Adade report and the sector minister to be dismissed and further face prosecution are Messrs Charles Adjei-Managing Director, A.B. Adjei- Chief Manager (materials) , Robert Tackie- Deputy Manager (Finance and Administration), Charles Mensah- Chief Manager (commercial), S.G.O. Lamptey- Deputy Managing Director (operations) and E.N.A. Amarteifio- Stores Manager. 

“The report indicated that Cobbie Kessie, former deputy Managing Director, who, after having been confirmed, was dismissed by the board on the orders of Charles Adjei, should be compensated for wrongful dismissal. Against the company may decide to reinstate him if the need to employ another deputy MD arises in future. 

“However, he, together with Messrs Charles Mensah, Peter Deamesi and A.B. Adjei misused an amount of GHC72.5m so they should be investigated and prosecuted for causing financial loss to the state.” 

Below is how Ghanaian Chronicle captured news of his involvement in the GWCL saga 

Some Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) workers found by the Justice Nicholas Yaw Boafo Adade Committee of Enquiry, to have embezzled or misappropriated public funds will soon face the music, The Ghanaian Chronicle has learnt.

“Going, some people are going to go, heads are going to roll and people would have to vomit what they fraudulently took from the company,” said A.R. Musah, the acting chairman of the reconstituted board of the GWCL. He assured that far from the fears that seem to be harboured by a section of the local press, the GWCL is not out to shield anybody found to have misconducted him or herself.

Kwamena Bartels, the then Minister for Works and Housing, on 12 March 2001 set up a committee to investigate a report by the Chief Internal Auditor of GWCL that certain regions had built up large stocks of printed stationery, contrary to the GWCL board’s directive that such stocks should not be purchased in excess of a year’s requirements of the particular region.

The committee found out that some regions had stocks of stationery that could last for 100 years. In the course of the investigations, the committee found other issues such as those of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.

For instance, an untraceable amount of ?800m was written off from the creditors’ records of the company while an excess amount of about ?3bn was paid to a supplier.

In an interview with the Chronicle, last Friday, Musah said the board met three times last week to go through the committee’s findings and the ministry’s position on the report. “There were a few issues to trash out regarding what pertains in the junior staff collective agreement” and that majority of the affected persons belonged to the junior staff union.

Three chief managers implicated in the report, are less difficult to deal with as no union rights or privileges protect them. However, 14 other workers implicated are more difficult to punish or be prosecuted, because all are unionised and seem to be protected by the union rules and privileges, the board chairman indicated.

According to him the critical issue to consider was to determine whether the junior staff collective agreement takes precedent over the government’s position on the report.

Meanwhile, the government’s position on the “Justice Adade Committee of Enquiry into Ghana Water Company Limited” had been that monies that were fraudulently taken from the company be recovered from the persons involved-with interest; the perpetrators be dismissed and finally be made to face the law on charges of causing financial loss to the state.

Prominent among those recommended by the Adade report and the sector minister to be dismissed and further face prosecution are Messrs Charles Adjei-Managing Director, A.B. Adjei- Chief Manager (materials), Robert Tackie- Duputy Manager (Finance and Administration), Charles Mensah- Chief Manager (commercial), S.G.O. Lamptey- Deputy Managing Director (operations) and E.N.A. Amarteifio- Stores Manager.

Others are Peter Deamesi- Chief Manager (Administration), Albert Asomoah- Eastern Region stores, Eric Owusu-Ansah- Western Region stores, Madam Mary Ofori- Ashanti Region stores and Kenneth Ennin- Principal Revenue Officer.

The rest are Messrs Kofi Quarshie- Purchasing Officer, Atta Poku- Senior Audit Assistant, Henry Forson- Storekeeper, Charles Ansong Lawson (now retired)- Public Relations Manager and Capt Victor Ansah (rtd)- Consumer Relations Officer (now with Water Restructuring Secretariat).

The report indicated that Cobbie Kessie, former deputy Managing Director, who, after having been confirmed, was dismissed by the board on the orders of Charles Adjei, should be compensated for wrongful dismissal. Against the company may decide to reinstate him if the need to employ another deputy MD arises in future.

However, he, together with Messrs Charles Mensah, Peter Deamesi and A.B. Adjei misused an amount of ?72.5m so they should be investigated and prosecuted for causing financial loss to the state.

There were some individuals who did not work at GWCL, but as established by the committee, used their private companies to benefit from the fraudulent deals. Their companies are therefore to be blacklisted from doing any business with GWCL, while the persons involved are investigated by the security agencies and subsequently made to face prosecution.

They include Messrs Fred Ntim and his FON Ltd, SOMFER Ltd., Seth Yeboah (of Dawu Youngsters Football Club) and his group of companies namely Sakisko Ltd, Fago Ltd, September 18 Enterprise, Best Time Press, Alifax Ltd, Skyko Company, JSV Printing Press, Serry Printing, Printhony Press and Distribution Enterprise and Safeway Print.

In the same vein Patrick Amoh’s group of companies- UNIK Press, Formosa Enterprise, Speedway Press and Horizon Printing Press are to be blacklisted. Others are Mike Obuobi and his Intelligent Solutions International, Dr Peter Omari’s Omari Computek Ltd, Mr Afedzi Hayford and his TARA Systems Ltd.

By: www.GhanaWeb.com