By: Hamza Lansah Lolly /Baba Mohammed Issahak
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has revealed key players behind Ghana’s controversial $74 million waste bin contract involving the Jospong Group of Companies and the Ghana government, exposing a web of poor judgment, inflated pricing, and questionable procurement decisions.
On his Facebook page, the award-winning investigative journalist reveals that these three individuals are behind this dubious deal.
The scandal, which led to the awarding of a $74 million contract in 2016 for the supply of one million waste bins and 900,000 bin liners, has been widely condemned for massive price inflation and procedural breaches.
At the centre of the saga was then and currently, Chief of Staff Hon Julius Debrah, who directed the procurement of the bins despite the Local Government Ministry’s ongoing struggle to distribute 100,000 bins previously procured. Hon Debrah, who earlier served as Local Government Minister, is criticized for not requesting updates before pushing for the massive purchase.
Hon. Collins Dauda, who succeeded Debrah as Local Government Minister, is implicated in awarding the bloated contract to five companies under the Jospong Group, many of which could not produce plastic. At the time, thousands of unused bins were reportedly rotting across various assemblies.
The Jospong Group, led by CEO Joseph Siaw Agyepong, allegedly sold bin liners to the government at $15.60 each—over 60 times higher than the $0.23 price quoted to the public. MR Manasseh Awuni’s investigation estimates the actual cost of the liners at just $207,000, compared to the $14 million billed to the state.
According to a statement from Mr Manasseh, The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approved the sole-sourcing request, citing urgency ahead of a supposed cholera outbreak, despite the contract being signed during the dry season.
The Akufo-Addo administration, after taking over in January 2017, later cancelled the deal before payment was made. However, Mr Manasseh Awuni notes that no prosecutions followed, even as payments exceeding GHS200 million were made in related deals.
According to Mr Manasseh Azure, Despite widespread evidence, the waste bin scandal remains one of many unresolved corruption cases involving public procurement in Ghana.
