The Coalition of Northern Ghana Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have commended the Office of the Special Prosecutor for conducting investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in Northern Development Authority (NDA) in respect of a contract awarded to A & Qs Consortium services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.
The Coalition led by its convener, Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), in a press statement commended the Special Prosecutor for demonstrating practical commitment to fighting corruption in Ghana.
” The CSOs led by its Convener, the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) has commended the Office of the Special Prosecutor for demonstrating practical commitment to fighting corruption in Ghana by conducting investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in Northern Development Authority (NDA) in respect of a contract awarded to A & Qs Consortium services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.”
NOPRA said the directive of the OSP to the Controller Accountant General to freeze payment of Ten Million Cedis for a fraudulent contract and the arrest of the Chief Executive Officer of the North Development Authority is particularly commendable.
“The directive of the OSP to the Accountant and Controller General to freeze payment arising from the fraudulent contract of Ten Million Ghana cedis and the arrest of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NDA, his deputies and an official from the Jubilee House are particularly commendable.”
The Office of the Special Prosecutor in a press statement on 26th July,2022, said it commenced investigations on 30th June,2022 “into suspected Corruption and and Corruption related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&Qs Consortium for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme, especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum”
“The Special Prosecutor has invited the coordinator of the Special Initiatives at the Jubilee House and other several serving officers, including the Chief Executive, and relevant past officers of the NDA and officers of A&Qs Consortium for questioning all the invited persons have been placed on bail.”
NOPRA and the Coalition of Northern Ghana Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have however suggested to the Special Prosecutor to direct the accused persons to stay off their offices during the period of investigations since their continues stay in office can compromise investigations.
“In the view of the Coalition, the continuous stay of the accused officials has the potential of obstructing or impeding the smooth conduct of the investigations into their alleged corrupt acts and of course compromising the quality of the outcome of the investigations.”
The group also commended the Former CEO of the NDA, Dr. Sulemana Anamzoya and lawyer Martin Kpebu for their bold decisions to petition the Presidency and OSP respectively on the matter.
“While using this opportunity to also commend the former CEO of NDA, Dr Sulemana Anamzoya and lawyer Martin Kpebu for their bold decisions to petition the Presidency and OSP respectively on this matter”
By: Simon Agana Blessing/mywordfmonline.com