Private Legal Practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has called on the government to establish an independent commission of enquiry to investigate allegations of corruption leveled against the Office of the President by the Fourth Estate.
The allegations of corruption are concerning the awarding of scandalous Covid-19 contracts that was authorized by the Office of the President.
The contracts were awarded to sanitation companies to fumigate and disinfect markets, schools and other public places in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Fourth Estate had reported that there was no need for the contracts.
“The documentary also reveals that even if there was any need for the contracts, there were existing contractual arrangements to do the work without awarding new contracts.
“Besides, a number of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies also had the capacity to do the work. However, they were asked to stop while hundreds of millions of cedis were paid to some companies with records of shady deals with the government to do the work,” the Fourth Estate had reported.
Reacting to the allegations, Martin Kpebu stressed that it was important for the government to set up an enquiry into the matter to bring finality to the case.
According to him, all those involved in the scandal, including the President should be brought forward for cross-examination on the case.
“I think this particular thing, the expose Manasseh did, I think what President Akufo-Addo can do for us, the least he can do is that let’s have a commission of enquiry. Let’s have an open independent commission of enquiry because this waste, we will not allow it to go.
“He has to be held accountable for it. Why do you order that spraying be done when spraying is not necessary? You see what the WHO did? Didn’t he say he has all the experts at the Jubilee House? So who advised him to ask for the spraying when spraying was not necessary?
“If you’re doing such a Covid spraying one would have expect that the least he would have done is that apart from his experts he should have checked with WHO. So I think that the least President Akufo-Addo can do about this Manasseh expose is that let’s have a public commission of enquiry, he should come answer, bring the experts who had advised him, let’s have a full enquiry.
“They’d be cross examined on the basis of their advice to him and the rest. Because Sam hundred and twenty two million for one phase is not chicken change, no that’s a colossal sum. So how much did the phase two cost? Because you see that the figures are contradictory, is that not so? Finance Minister gives his separate, local government gives theirs separate. Let’s have a commission of enquiry,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Imani-Ghana criticises Akufo-Addo for not lauding Fourth Estate’s contribution to social development
23 seconds -
Man remanded for allegedly stabbing businessman with broken bottle and screwdriver
26 mins -
Population in Kumasi Central Prison surges to 1800, threefold exceeding capacity
35 mins -
NPP to conduct La Dadekotopon parliamentary primary today
35 mins -
KPMG’s report on GRA and SML deal, government white paper on report and matters arising
36 mins -
I won’t reply to Chris Brown tour criticism – Ayra Star
38 mins -
British Columbia to back off drug decriminalisation project
46 mins -
Veteran commentator Joe Lartey Sr dies at 96
47 mins -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses KPMG report on SML deal, ILO on SSNIT reserves and NDC’s running mate
1 hour -
Ghanaian activist hugs over 1,100 trees in an hour to set Guinness World Records
1 hour -
Mathew Anim Cudjoe’s Dundee United promoted to Scottish Premiership after Championship win
1 hour -
NSMQ star Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland sweeps 12 awards at UG Vice-Chancellor’s Ceremony
2 hours -
Ghana’s Education Quality ranked 125 out of 183 countries in latest Global Youth Development Index
3 hours -
Emma Stone wants people to use her real first name
3 hours -
Verna Purified Water emerges as ultimate winner at Ghana Beverage Awards 2023
3 hours