About 20 road contractors have dismissed allegation that they pay a GH¢1 million bribe before being awarded road contracts.
They are 1st Sky Ltd, Maripoma Ent Ltd, Justimoh Construction Ltd, Resource Access Ltd, Kasmo Co Ltd, Oswald Investment Ltd, Ussuya Gh Ltd, Volta Impex Ltd, Limerica Gh Ltd, Doncross Ltd, Joshop Gh Ltd, General Construction Ltd, Hardwick Ltd, Kofi Job Construction, Menphis Construction Ltd, Mawums Ltd, Kingspock Ltd, Kingdowsco Co Ltd, Nagfairmont Gh Ltd and New Modern World Ltd.
According to them, no such bribes were paid for road contracts in the country and indicated their readiness to work with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the allegation.
In a statement issued by the road contractors in Accra, the road contractors argued that the process for contract awarding was transparent and difficult for corrupt practices to prevail.
“We wish to state clearly that none of us have had any such experience. Road contracts go through a process until the award is given.
“The process is well known and transparent and consequently makes it very difficult for corrupt practices to prevail in the allocation of road contracts,” the statement added.
It commended the Minister of Roads and Highways for leading the ministry with candor and professionalism as well as working to improve the capacity of local contractors to meet international standards.
“He has brought discipline to the roads construction sector and has deliberately built the capacity of local contractors to meet international standards for the purpose of relying on local capacity and ensuring true independence,” the statement noted.
Although taken aback by the allegations, it said, the road contractors would support the work of any investigative body to bring closure to the allegations.
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 had information that persons seeking road contracts were required to pay GH¢1 million bribe upfront.
In response, the Ministry of Roads and Highways called on EOCO to investigate the allegation of corruption in the award of road contracts as alleged by the professor.
“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,” the Ministry said in a statement.
“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, October 23, 2023, requested the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to fully investigate the allegations,” the statement added.
BY TIMES REPORTER
