Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised concerns over a purported ‘sweet’ deal awarded to Resources Access Limited, a company owned by Abraham Bawumia, brother of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The deal, worth GHC166 million, has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, especially considering the company’s alleged history of benefiting from opaque single-source procurements.
Mr Ablakwa, known for his vocal stance on transparency and accountability in governance, highlighted the apparent contradiction in the Vice President’s previous criticism of single-source procurements.
He noted that while in opposition, Dr. Bawumia vehemently condemned such practices, labeling them as overpriced contracts.
However, the recent revelations suggest that under the current government, the Bawumia family-owned company has reportedly benefitted significantly from similar procurement methods.
The MP expressed concern over what he described as a “marauding, unprincipled, and nepotistic” procurement empire, suggesting that the situation is “totally out of control.”
“No Vice President and Chair of the Ghana Armed Forces Council in Ghana’s entire history has engaged in this deplorable conduct.
“Imagine what the NPP, CSOs, media, anti-corruption crusaders, and the larger Ghanaian society would have done to then Vice President John Mahama or then Vice President John Evans Atta Mills (God bless his soul) if during their respective tenures as Chair of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, road contracts or other contracts within the Ghana Armed Forces were awarded to their direct siblings?” he wrote in a Facebook post.
He referenced intercepted contract documents and payment vouchers that allegedly reveal a pattern of inflated contracts and preferential treatment for Resources Access Limited.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the contracts awarded to Resources Access Limited include the rehabilitation of selected roads in Teshie Camp, Southern Command, Military Academy Training School roads, partial reconstruction of selected roads in Accra, and the construction of the Sunyani By-Pass Outer Ring from Kumasi Berekum Road. These contracts, he claims, have contributed to the company’s substantial earnings from the government.
The MP also raised concerns about apparent conflicts of interest, pointing out that Vice President Bawumia chairs the Ghana Armed Forces Council, which oversees military-related contracts. He questioned the ethics of awarding such contracts to a company owned by the Vice President’s brother.
Mr Ablakwa’s revelations come at a time when the government is facing criticism over its handling of procurement processes and economic management.
The MP called for greater transparency and fairness in awarding contracts, emphasizing that all businesses should have equal opportunities to thrive.
“This is not the Ghana we deserve. Governments must create an enabling, just and fair business climate for all companies to thrive, and not just for their familial or crony businesses.”
“It is absolutely despicable that Bawumia cannot be trusted to practice what he preaches. It becomes clearer each passing day why Bawumia and the NPP are desperately seeking to break the 8. But the Ghanaian people are determined, and nothing can stop judgment day!” he concluded.
