Ex-Speaker Caught In ¢18 Billion Shoddy Parliament Building Contract

The Herald’s investigations into the new Parliament building completed barely six months ago, and which is collapsing, has cited the long “Kleptomaniac hands” of the ex-Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes, in operation in the over ¢18 billion project initiated by his predecessor, the late Peter Ala-Adjetey.

Mr. Sekyi-Huhges, The Herald learnt, specifically prevented the Director of Development in Parliament, Mr. Fred Sarfo-Doodo, from supervising the construction works and also making recommendations that would have made the otherwise impressive edifice to stand the test of time.

Hence, just six months after the new building was occupied, fixtures and fittings like door handles and urinals have already broken down because they are of inferior quality. The roof leaks badly, sink at the lavatory has split into two and has to be supported with a stick while wide opens can be found in many parts of the ceiling, a visit by The Herald revealed.

A high tension electricity cable holding high voltage power was also cited lying dangerously on the floor, at the main entrance to the building, posing a serious risk to both the Members of Parliament as well as the civil servants working there.

Some occupants of the building told The Herald that the Central Air condition in a wing of the building is not working leaving staff and even the leadership of the House crying for replacement. The building itself was shoddily put up by the contractor, a certain Mr. Amoako of Amoako and Amoako Constructions Limited.

Insiders disclosed that Mr. Fred Sarfo-Doodo was demoted from his position as Director of Development, to the position of Maintenance Officer, by the ex-Speaker.

Mr. Sarfo-Doodo’s crime was merely that he performed his assigned by impressing upon the contractor, who is said to be a brother in-law of ex-Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, to do a good job.

When reached yesterday, Mr. Sarfo-Doodo declined to speak to The Herald. He referred the paper to the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Jones Teye Kuglenu, who also claimed that the situation has been a subject matter discussed at a closed-door meeting by Parliamentarians, and cannot be made public.

After demoting Mr. Sarfo-Dodoo, the ex-Speaker kept him, on the payroll of Parliament as Director of Development to enable him the enjoy his salary and other benefits. Insiders said he did this to prevent Mr Sarfo-Dodoo from carrying out his threat to drag him (Mr. Sekyi-Hughes) to court for demoting him.

The demoted Director of Development has been captured in a report titled “Report of the House Committee on the State of Security and General Maintenance” as having “shockingly informed the committee that he was not allowed to exercise professional responsibility by the previous Parliamentary Service Board and, as such, the consultant and contractor could get away with the shoddy and inferior work.”

The demoted director did not mention who reduced him in rank in the report which was the subject matter of a closed-door meeting of Parliament last week Friday.

“The director claimed he was not only stopped from interfering with the work of the contractor but was also banned by the previous board from entering the project site,” the report said.

Mr. Sarfo-Dodoo is still in his position as Maintenance Officer as degreed by Sekyi Hughes, awaiting a reaction from the current Parliamentary Service Board.

The previous board chaired by the former Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, comprised the former Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong; then Minority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and former Clerk to Parliament, Mr. K.E.K Tachie; the late Joseph Darko Mensah, and former Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North and Martin Abrefa Tawiah and Rosemary Arthur as secretaries.

The same Amoako and Amoako Constructions Limited, The Herald learnt, was awarded the contract for the renovation of the Castle in 2001, by the current National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

It is unclear whether the over ¢18 billion contract went through a competitive tender process as specified by law.

The demotion of Mr. Sarfo-Doodo, according insiders, was ostensibly done by Mr. Sekyi-Hughes to enable the governments’ chosen contractor to execute the job without any obstacles albeit one which would have made the taxpayer to have gotten value for the money.

Details emerging suggest that AESL was the consultant on the project and that the cost of the project is more than the ¢18 billion. More to come!