Multi-Million Dollar Contract Stink At AMA!

THERE IS A HEAVY STINK permeating the corridors of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) over the revelations that the bearded Municipal Chief Executive, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has handed over a juicy contract worth millions of dollars to a company without going through due process.

The details of the chubby contract awarded by the Mayor, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuige to SW Global Limited are just emerging, but already, leading figures in the assembly are raising hell over the contract, with some disputing whether any such contract has been signed due to the magnitude of the contract.

The contract to SW Global is to provide software to support the former’s initiative of implementing the business operating license regime, but many in the assembly are raising concern about the fact that it id not go through tender.

It has also emerged that some stake-holders in the Assembly are not enthused about the manner in which the contract was given out without their knowledge, particularly since it was not advertised, there was no tender, and only one company was allowed to do a presentation on it to the assembly.

So far, it has emerged that the agreement between the AMA and SW Global Limited was signed on the 24th day of January 2010.

According to the terms of the contract, it shall be for seven (7) years from the ‘Effective Date’ and shall be renewable upon written notification by either party, not later than six (6) calendar months prior to the end of the Term.

Interestingly, the AMA cannot terminate the Agreement but if SWG determines that there are insufficient sources of revenue to recoup the cost of deployment of infrastructure and costs associated, “SWG reserves the Right to terminate this Agreement upon sixty (60) days written notice’.

Yesterday when this paper contacted the Presiding Member of the Assembly on phone and after a brief introduction and asking the relevant questions, he said, “I don’t know the one I am speaking to, come to my office and let’s talk. The question you are asking I need to know the one I am talking to.”

A certain Mr. Robert Ansah who claims to be an Adviser to the Mayor told this reporter to seek clarification with the Mayor before he talks to him or better still contact the Legal Department of the Assembly.

“I am privileged to have that information, but I am not allowed to share it,” he said.

He continued that ‘do you understand, if I did have the information or whatever information I have from the Mayor, I am not at liberty to share it except on his express permission so if you needed me to desperately to speak with you might need to call the Mayor and get permission and I could talk to you’.

The Revenue Chairman told this reporter that he was only ready to talk to him if he comes to the offices of the AMA located off Asafoatse Nettey Road, High Street but not on phone.

Mr. Adu of the Procurement section of the Assembly told this reporter that he was on his sick bed saying “I have just had surgery and I am not supposed to be talking, when I get to the office next week, come and let me explain issues to you’.

We gather from a source that it is true a company has been contracted to install software that will help the Assembly boost its revenue generation.

Asked whether due diligence was done he answered in the affirmative saying that ‘nothing was done…. no feasibility was done and the Assembly under Oko is flouting the procurement law with impunity’.