The role of some prominent institutions including the Lands Commission, Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) in the divestiture of Automobile Technical Services ATS, aka Kowus Motors, to SABAT MOTORS has been questioned.
Mr. Kwamena Bartels MP for Ablekuma North today said the DIC sold ATS to SABAT motors for 3.7 billion cedis, far below its real value of 5.3 billion and they were required to pay ten percent of the amount as commitment fee and the balance to be paid within four months time.
According to Mr. Bartels, the directors of SABAT issued a bounced cheque for the ten per cent payment. Notwithstanding this alleged criminal offence, ATS was handed over to SABAT. Its a crimminal offence to issue a bounced cheque in Ghana!
For Mr. Kwamina Bartels, the fact that 55 workers of SABAT motors live in his constituency is enough grounds to mount a crusade to expose alleged wrong doing in the ATS-SABAT saga. The workers haven't been paid for two months. And at a time when schools have re-opened, transport costs have gone up and with the energy crisis on, Mr. Bartels is calling for the abrogation of the Sales and Purchase Agreement with SABAT motors to enable a prospective investor interested in ATS takes over.
