EOCO to investigate Prof Adei’s allegation of corruption in road contracts

• Posted on October 24, 2023October 24, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is to investigate the allegation of corruption in the award of road contracts as alleged by Professor Stephen Adei, a former Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Speaking in a television interview last week, Prof Stephen Adei, who is also a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) said he has information to the effect that persons seeking road contracts are told: “Road contracts will be given to you, provided you pay 1 million upfront….”

In a press statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Roads and Highways said, “These allegations are surprising at the least because the processes leading to the award of road contracts are open, transparent, competitive and in accordance with the law.”

“Given that the alleged conduct borders on the commission of crime against the Republic, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoato-Attah, has today, 23rd October 2023, requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to fully investigate the allegations,” a press statement signed and issued by Nasir Ahmad Yartey, Head of Public Relations said.

Attached below is a copy of the press statement issued by the Roads and Highways ministry

ALLEGATIONS OF ORGANISED CRIME IN THE AWARD OF ROAD CONTRACTS

The attention of the Ministry of Roads and Highways has been drawn to a video clip in circulation in the social media space in which Prof. Stephen Adei makes some allegations of corruption in the public sector concerning the award of road contracts.

The allegation was made by Prof Stephen Adei, a former Rector of GIMPA in a television interview with TV3, a private television station in Ghana.

In the said interview first aired on Friday 20th October 2023, Prof Adei alleges that he has information to the effect that persons seeking road contracts are told: “Road contracts will be given to you, provided you pay 1 million upfront….”

These allegations are surprising at the least because the processes leading to the award of road contracts are open, transparent, competitive and in accordance with the law.

Given that the alleged conduct borders on the commission of crime against the Republic, the Minister of Roads and Highway, Kwasi Amoato-Attah, has today, 23rd October 2023, requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to fully investigate the allegations.

The Ministry wishes to assure the public that it shall cooperate fully and support EOCO in the conduct of its investigation.

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