NDC gov’t signs fresh €18m contract

The exiting Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has approved a controversial €18 million waste management contract at a time the government’s tenure is coming to an end.

The single source procurement was approved just last Thursday, December 15, by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) at the request of Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

Mahama’s NDC government is on its way out of office following its massive defeat at the hands of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) which candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will become the 5th President of the 4th Republic when he is finally inaugurated on January 7, 2017.

Documents available to DAILY GUIDE reveal that the contracts involve a company called SCL Waste Management Limited, which is expected to establish an e-waste recycling plant pursuant to Section 31 of the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, 2016 (Act 917).

Under the deal approved by the PPA, the sector minister has also been given the power to ‘designate’ an external service provider pursuant to Section 21 of the Act; and a company called Contecna was selected without any competition.

The approval of the contract was coming at a time the NPP team on the Transition Committee had raised issues about unbridled signing of contracts by ministers as well as recruitment of people believed to be NDC activists into the public and civil service.

Some are also said to be backdating promotions, particularly the Ghana Maritime Authority, where the head has allegedly cowed everybody into submission.

The documents show that the request was made by the minister on November 24, with reference number MESTI/SCR/003/04; and a response from the PPA was sent on November 29 with reference PPA/CEO/11/2442/16.

Subsequently, on December 15, the PPA gave approval for the minister to make arrangement for SCL Waste Management Limited to establish the e-waste plant as well as designate Contecna to carry out environmental services on behalf of the government.

A document signed by Samuel Sallas-Mensah, Chief Executive of PPA – with reference PPA/CEO/12/2628/16 – last Thursday indicated, “At the 141st SSRT meeting held on 14th December ,2016, the board decided that approval should be granted Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in accordance with Section 40 (1) (a) of Act 663, to sole-source Messrs SCL Waste Management Limited to establish an E-Waste Recycling Plant at a cost of €18 million, including shipment of the plant and construction of housing and installation of the plant. To be borne by MSCL.”

Designating Contecna, the PPA in a letter with reference PPA/CEO/12/2629/16 said, “At the 141st SSRT meeting held on 14th December, 2016, the board decided that approval should be granted Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in accordance with Section 40 (1) (a) of Act 663, to sole-source Contecna to carry out environmental services of pre-shipment inspection of electrical and electronic goods exported to Ghana and collect the assessed eco levy on behalf of the government.”

President Mahama and his NDC administration are being accused of entering into agreements and signing contracts with entities ostensibly to tie the hands of the incoming NPP administration.

Recruitment At Cocobod

Cocobod is for instance, said to be undergoing fresh recruitment exercise and is reportedly commencing interviewing of applicants today.

A source told DAILY GUIDE, “There’s a long-standing ban on recruitment into the Public Service in force, so why all these late packing of the Service with defeated party supporters? The new government will be forced to lay them all off if possible. I hear the recruitment they are doing is massive.”

According to sources, Cocobod is already over-staffed, finding it difficult to pay workers; and now Kwabena Opuni, the outgoing chief executive, is packing the place with NDC activists as well as surrogates.

John Boadu, acting NPP General Secretary, last week stated that it appeared the outgoing NDC government was not acting in good faith with the awards of contracts because per the rules, government appointees were supposed to write their handing over notes one clear month before the election.

He has already said that the incoming government reserved the right to look into the propriety of the last-minute contracts and appointments.