Transport Ministry Says 2021 KIA Christmas Decor Was Rented Not Bought
The Ministry of Transport has noted that the 2021 Christmas decorations at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) were rented and not bought as believed.
This was in response to a Right to Information request for details about the selection of the companies whose services were procured by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).
“Please be informed that the Christmas decorations for 2021 were rented and not procured by the GACL. Hence, there was no procurement or bidding process for the award of the contract”, the designated RTI officer of the Ministry, Theresah Kokui Fiador responded to the RTI request noted.
This means that the rented Christmas decorations for the 2021 Christmas season from the two companies will have to be returned, the Transport Ministry explained.
It emphasised that the decorations in question were rented and paid for by a sponsor.
It will be recalled that in January 2022, an invoice from two companies- Jandel Limited and Favours & Arts companies- depicted the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) had invested ¢129,275 in purchasing decorations for the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) during the 2021 Yuletide.
The Jandel Limited invoice showed the decor for Terminal 3 Arrival Hall- (a decorated Christmas tree with lights), lighting décor on the trees around the lawn, and decoration of existing trees- cost of GH¢ 38,775, while the invoice from Favors and Arts for the “purchase” of a Christmas chandelier with lights amounted to GHS 90,500.
The development was met with public outrage against the Board Chairman of the GACL, Paul Adom Otchere who was addressed in one of the invoices.
Reacting to this, Paul, who is also a broadcaster, said he went through the right processes in selecting the two companies.
Denying the cost displayed on the invoice, he said the Christmas trees at Terminal 3 and three others cost ¢34,000, and was provided by Jandel Limited at “a heavy discount”.
He pointed out that the services of Favors and Arts cost ¢84,000 however ¢50,000 of the amount was obtained through sponsorship with the remaining ¢34,000 borne by the company.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
