The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs, Charlotte Osei is walking in quicksand as pressure mounts on her to justify why portioning and furnishing of the new EC office must cost the taxpayer a colossal amount of GH3.9 million.
What is making it worse is the decision of the EC Boss to unilaterally sign the contract without the express approval of the other Commissioners.
According to sources close to the EC, Mrs. Osei by-passed procurement procedures at the Commission and on the blind side of the other commissioners, signed the construction of fit-out partitions of the office with a company called inocon (Ghana) ltd. on 13th September 2016.
The agreement in part stated that: a) The commission has decided to allocate part of its budget to construct fit-out partitions in a newly allocated office complex to provide office space for staff to facilitate the work of the commission.
b) The Commission has awarded the contractor the contract for the construction of fit-out partitions of new office building as defined in this contract and
c) The contractor, having represented to the commission that it has the required professional skills and personnel, technical and financial resources, has agreed to construct the fit-out partitions of the new office building on the terms and conditions set forth in this contract.
d) The contract price is GH3,976,244.33 for construction of fit-out partitions.
Although the other commission members are silent on the project, it is expected that eh subject ill feature prominently in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at the EC head office.
Published is a portion of the contract the EC Boss signed with INOCON.