General News of 2012-07-03

Disclose details of $1.5m claim by Africa Automobile - GII demands

Anti-graft body, the Ghana Integrity Initiative wants government to make available all details relating to the controversial 1.5 billion dollars claim by Africa Automobile for some 86 vehicles the company says it imported for the state.

Government says it is currently deadlocked in an attempt to beat down the 1.5 billion dollar claim out of court.

It has accused the erstwhile Kufuor administration of incurring the debt because it refused to pay for the vehicles which cost $17 million in 2001, an accusation that has been denied.

The Executive Director of GII, Mr Vitus Azeem says all documents must be made public.

“If we really had a contract, what were the terms of the contract? Do the terms of the contract give the company the right to demand the money they are asking for”? he asked.

He said the details were necessary for a determination as to whether to settle the case out of court, given that the state has not historically won cases brought against it.

Mr. Azeem said government must carefully consider the option of pursuing the case in court if there is enough evidence to guarantee successful litigation.