The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has stated that he has not caused or prompted the withdrawal of a said contract which was awarded to Messrs Prefos Limited by the Ahafo Ano District Assembly (AADA).

He also denied giving any note or order to any person either in Accra or in Ahafo Ano North to influence the award of a World Bank project on contract to any person.

This was announced by Mr Andrews Awuni, Special Assistant to the Vice-President, in an interview yesterday.

Mr Awuni was reacting to a report by the Chronicle (Tuesday 18, July, 2002 edition) that HE Aliu Mahama has ordered the withdrawal of a World Bank contract which the paper alleged to have been awarded to Prefos Limited but had to be abrogated after 24 hours due to instructions from the Vice-President.

He described the Chronicle report as “reckless and irresponsible, and explained that the award and execution of the contract is entirely the responsibility of the regional and district authorities as well as the specialised and appropriate institutions and agencies in the water sector and not the Vice-President”.

The office of the Vice-President has challenged the Chronicle to substantiate the allegations it has levelled against the Vice-President or retract the story immediately.

The office will also formally send a complaint to the National Media Commission for redress.

The Daily Guide has gathered that, after the award of the contract to construct 14 boreholes in AADA, it was forwarded to Mr Mike Agyei, Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), who recommended the disqualification of the said contractors bid due to the fact that he detected some faults in the technical report.

It was however recommended that the project should be re-advertised for people to tender.

“The Vice-President is not in anyway involved in the award or withdrawal of the contract because he has not come into contact with Mr Agyei, Mr Farouk or Mr Ibraham Sunday, who is said to be favoured by the Vice-President over the contract, Mr Awuni said.

It would be recalled that in yesterday’s issue of the Chronicle the paper reported that “Vice-President Aliu influenced the withdrawal of contract” from Messrs Prefos Limited.

The story said the contract was awarded to the said contractor and withdrawn 24 hours later.