General News of Saturday, 15 December 2018

Source: pulse.com.gh

Energy Minister justifies GH¢100 million streetlight contract to Ken Agyapong’s wife

Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu

The Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu, says there was no breach in the awarding of a GH¢100 million contract to Imperial World Ventures for the supply of streetlights.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament Thursday, the Minister justified the contract, insisting it was selected with approval from the Public Procurement Authority.

He said the contract was awarded on the basis of restricted tendering, therefore no low was breached.

His comments come on the back of allegations that the government did not follow due processes in awarding the contract to Imperial World Ventures, which is reportedly owned by the wife of MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong

The company was reportedly formed months before the contract was approved, supporting allegations that the ministry did not fairly select a contractor.

However, the Energy Minister has justified the awarding to the contract, insisting there was no breach.

“The procurement method used in award of the contract was the restricted tendering process which is in accordance with section 38b of Act 663 of the Public Procurement Act.

“It is to be noted that the Ministry [of Energy] obtained approval from the Public Procurement Authority and the Central Tender Review Committee prior to the award of the contract,” Mr. Amewu said, as quoted by Citinewsroom.

Earlier in the year, Kennedy Agyapong defended his wife over the supposed procurement breach.

He said his wife won the contract on merit, while accusing the opposition NDC of trying to tarnish her image.

“My wife’s contract was not sole-sourced. It was a restricted [limited] tender. She qualified for it, that was the reason she was awarded. Those accusing her should desist from that because that won’t stop her from doing the right thing. That publication from that newspaper is a diabolical plan by the NDC to tarnish my image and that of my wife,” the lawmaker told Adom FM in April.