Ablakwa Petitions World Bank Over Ascend eTransform Project Contract “Irregularities”
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has petitioned the World Bank to investigate the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation’s award of a contract to Ascend Digital Solutions for the Ghana Rural Telephony Project in 2022.
The project sponsored by the World at US$ 48 million is said to have been marred by irregularities, misrepresentation, insider dealing and conflict of interest.
According to the lawmaker, the Commercial Agreement for the project approved by Parliament on March 31, 2020, was US$ 155 million and was to be executed by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC).
He alleges that the Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, conspired with Ascend Digital Solutions to secure a US$ 49.5 million from the World Bank the project.
The legislator also argues that the Ministry failed to secure the approval of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in awarding the contract to Ascend.
In his petition, he requested the World Bank to launch a formal investigation pursuant to the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines which mandates all borrowers, bidders, consultants, contractors and suppliers and any of their personnel to observe the highest standard of ethics during the procurement process, selection and contract execution of the Bank’s financed contracts and refrained fraud and corruption.
He stated that the award and execution of the contract breached Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines.
Read The Full Petition Here:
