GII lauds CHRAJ for disqualifying former PPA boss from holding public office for 10 years

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has applauded the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for ruling in its favour against the former Public Procurement Authority boss, Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei.

A statement issued by GII on February 25, 2022 stated that CHRAJ had also ruled that the former CEO of PPA be disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.

According to the statement, Mr. A.B. Adjei was also directed by CHRAJ to declare his assets in accordance with Article 286(1) (c) of the 1992 constitution within three months.

He was also directed to refund an amount of GHC 5,697,530.00 (less GHC 86,000.00) to the state within the next 6 months.

The decision of CHRAJ was founded on new findings it made following a petition by the Ghana Integrity Initiative to the commission on October 4, 2019 after the contract for sale expose by renowned journalist, Manasseh Awuni Azure.

The initiative petitioned CHRAJ to conduct investigations into possible breaches by Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei and other members of the PPA board.

It alleged that Mr. Adjenim Boateng had been involved in corrupt practices and had used his position as CEO of PPA to facilitate his companies to win contracts.

It also alleged that the companies he established and got contracts awarded to, subcontracted or sold the same contracts to other entities without the consent of the said entities and through that, enriched himself illegally and placed himself in contravention to Article 286 of the 1992 constitution and as such should be investigated.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative also petitioned CHRAJ to investigate a company, TDL who was awarded a contract through the influence of Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei although it was less than 3 years old as a company. It asked CHRAJ to particularly investigate Thomas Amoah and public officers of the procurement entities for their involvement.

After investigations, CHRAJ reported on February 16, 2022 that Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei and Dr. Emmanuel Yaw Boakye put themselves in positions that conflicted with their performance as CEO and Board Member.

The report also stated that on two occasions, Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei used his position as CEO of PPA to alter board decisions in favour of TDL, a company he had personal interests in.

In addition, the report stated that the former PPA boss failed to declare his assets as required by Chapter 24 of the 1992 constitution and Act 550.

Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei’s unexplained wealth after investigations revealed that between August 2017 and August 2019 a huge amount of GHC 5, 697,530.00 in total had been deposited into his account therefore, CHRAJ ruled that he refunds that amount to the state.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative praised CHRAJ for its investigation through the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to fast track the criminal investigation aspect of this case.