MCE in a contract scam

Members of a tender committee in the Ejura municipal Assembly have raised a red flag against the Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Mohammed Bawah Braimah for urging them to attend a meeting over a project that he had already singularly given to a contractor believed to be his crony.

On Tuesday 16 June 2015, the municipal chief engineer, Mr. Eric Y. Owusu called a Tender Opening Meeting for two projects-construction of 1no. 6-Unit classroom at Ayinasu and a 1no. 10-seater Aqua Privy Toilet at Ejura Brigade.

The meeting chaired by the municipal coordinating director, Mr. Hafiz opened a Tender for the aforementioned projects and was subsequently awarded to some two different supposed qualified bidders.

Meanwhile, checks revealed that the MCE in a flagrant disregard for the procurement act unwontedly awarded the construction of the 1no. 6-unit classroom at Ayinasu to a contractor on the blind side of the committee and only ordered the meeting to fill in.

The procurement Act, 2003 is established to also ensure public procurement is carried out in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner.

But, when visited the site on the day of the Tender meeting, the project was above a waist level and the contractor was also not on site which means the project began before organizing the tendering meeting.

Speaking to an Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr. Robert Akowua, he confirmed the project started some four weeks ago and management of the school was never being involved at any point in the construction of the project.

"The project started about 3-4 weeks. Immediately that we heard, we saw them with the district engineer coming to survey the land where they want to put the structure, that is all I know about the project", he exposed.

When asked why the contractor was absent on the site, he answered, "I learned they are saying that they are short of blocks, so they are going and would return with some blocks and sand as well as other materials. So when the blocks are ready, they would come back".

This is a total contrast to the entire provisions in the public procurement Act 663 chapter 22clause one (1) of the Procurement Rule.

Members of the committee became in the known when Citi news after visiting the project wanted to know the need for a Tender meeting for a project that had already began.

The municipal education director, a frontline member of the committee refused to comment when contacted and asked this reporter to seek answers at the Assembly.

The Coordinating director, who chaired the meeting because the MCE was on official duty in Accra also declined comment, saying he doesn't want to lose his job.

He also declined to reveal the contract sum and the name of the contractor, but rather instructed this reporter to speak to the MCE.

However, some members of the Tender Committee who pleaded anonymity has questioned the legal basis of the actions of the MCE and the Engineer.

Some of them who described the MCE as a "blustering browbeating person, " said they are launching an independent investigation into the case, and will accordingly act against such a wanton neglect of laid down procedure for awarding contract

Residents are also questioning why the meeting that invited the General public was held behind closed doors. Those who tried to explain the MCE's action said it was to outweigh his 'opponent, for political advantage.

Attempts to reach the MCE for answers has been in vain.

But, since the MCE hinted his intentions to contest for MP in the ticket of the NDC, there have been a 'battle ' between him and the NPP Member of Parliament for the constituency on who does what.

However, some NDC executives in the area who still show symptoms of emotional illness about Mr. Bawa's appointment as a municipal chief executive think his action is for 'political expediency '.