Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu, has downplayed suggestions of a breach in the award of a ¢100 million contract to Imperial World Ventures for the supply of streetlights.
Answering a question from NDC MP for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey on the method of procurement for the said contract, John Peter Amewu indicated that no law had been breached in awarding the contract on the basis of restricted tendering.
There has been a suspicion that the government did not follow due processes in awarding the contract to the company which is believed to be owned by the wife of known NPP financier and MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
The company was allegedly formed months before the contract was approved, supporting allegations that the ministry did not fairly select a contractor.
But the Energy Minister in answering questions on the floor of the house said the contractor was selected through restricted tendering with approval from the Public Procurement Authority.
“The procurement method used in award of the contract was the restricted tendering process which is in accordance with section 38b of Act 663 of the Public Procurement Act. It is to be noted that the Ministry [of Energy] obtained approval from the Public Procurement Authority and the Central Tender Review Committee prior to the award of the contract,” he said.
In April 2018 when rumours were rife over the supposed procurement breach following a publication by the Daily Post Newspaper, the Assin Central legislator, Kennedy Agyapong said his wife won the contract on merit.
In an interview on Adom TV’s ‘Badwam’, he said, “My wife’s contract was not sole-sourced. It was a restricted [limited] tender. She qualified for it, that was the reason she was awarded. Those accusing her should desist from that because that won’t stop her from doing the right thing. That publication from that newspaper is a diabolical plan by the NDC to tarnish my image and that of my wife.”
He said his wife needed to be commended as she had far progressed with delivering on the project than expected.
Imperial World Ventures was awarded the contract to supply a number 150W LED streetlights.
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