Pressure group, Dynamic Youth Movement of Ghana (DYMOG), is raising concerns of potential breach of the Public Procurement (amended) Act, 2016, Act 914 in the appointment of Adjaye and Associates as consultants for the construction of the controversial new parliamentary chamber.
The group is therefore set to petition the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the potential breach.
The construction of the new chamber is expected to begin before the end of 2019.The Speaker of the House had said Parliament would not tolerate the project if it costs beyond $200 million.
Renowned Ghanaian architect, David Frank Adjaye, designed the model and took members of the House through it last month.
In its petition to CHRAJ, DYMOG cited three cases to support its call for investigations saying: “From the Speakers speech on Friday 28th June 2019 (unveiling ceremony), the testimony of Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza in the media and the submission of the majority and minority leaders on the floor on Friday 5th July, 2019 there appears to be gross inconsistency notably in the procurement process for the project.
“It appears details of the entire project and procurement process is shrouded in secrecy such that, key stakeholders such as members of parliament were completely unaware of the project until the unveiling ceremony.
“There is the possibility that, the Public Procurement (Amended) 2016 Act, Act 914 may have been violated in the procurement process.”
According to the group, the” inadequate openness” and “absence” of stakeholder engagement prior to the unveiling ceremony may be motivated by the sheer impulse on the part of key actors to satisfy ‘personal interests’ in the process thus far.
It is therefore praying that CHRAJ investigates and establish among other things the following:
“Pursuant to sections 20, section 66 and schedule 1B of the Public Procurement (Amended) 2016 Act, Act 914 determine whether or not, the Entity Tender Committee of Parliament performed its lawfully mandated duty in the appointment of Adjaye and Associates as consultants for the construction of the new 450-seater parliamentary chamber block.
“Going by the 2019 approved budget for the Parliamentary Service and the 2019 Appropriation Bill, clearly establish how the entire process leading to the appointment of Adjaye and Associates as consultants for the new 450-seater parliamentary chamber block was financed and at what cost.
“Clearly establish how the final or unveiled architectural design for the new 450-seater parliamentary chamber block was arrived at, the cost involved in the process and how it was financed.
“Finally, establish whether or not, the substantive contract for the construction of the new 450-seater parliamentary chamber block has been awarded. If Yes, through which process, awarded to whom, at what cost and from what source of funding?”
DYMOG also wants the proceedings of the investigation be telecasted live on national television for the public to follow.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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