The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that Resources Access Limited, a company owned by the Bawumia family, has unfettered access to the resources of Ghana through several “opaque” single-source procurements.
He emphasized that this is beside the fact that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, while in opposition persistently criticized President Mahama over single-source procurements and labeled them as overpriced contracts.
Moreover, the MP claimed that confidential documents and payment records in his possession expose the Bawumia single-source procurement empire as being utterly unchecked and out of control.
“Recall that a few weeks ago, I published single-source procurement documents intercepted from the Public Procurement Authority under the Cocoa Roads sector, which the Auditor-General’s findings state unambiguously and depressingly that Ghana’s procurement laws were violently abused in awarding hugely inflated contracts to Cocoa Road contractors including Resources Access Limited, which received the lion’s share of GH₵ 83.7million in that infamous create, loot and share scheme”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
More so, Hon. Ablakwa disclosed that fresh documents in his possession, which he is currently reviewing, confirm that the Auditor General’s concerns over procurement breaches and inflated single-source contracts are not limited to Cocoa Roads.
As such, he noted that the intercepted payment vouchers confirm that between March 3, 2023, and March 5, 2024, Resources Access Limited, owned by the Bawumias, received a staggering GH₵ 83,036,639 in direct payments from the government.
The contracts awarded to Resources Access Limited, the MP indicated, include the rehabilitation of Selected Roads in Teshie Camp, Southern Command, Military Academy Training School roads (23.45KM & 55,000M2); partial reconstruction of selected roads in Accra – LOT 1 (44.49KM); construction of Sunyani By-Pass Outer Ring from Kumasi Berekum road.
Furthermore, Hon. Ablakwa revealed that Resources Access Limited has secured a staggering GH₵ 166,768,904 in government contracts and payments through single-sourcing and inflated deals, including the cocoa road project
“How does Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia, Ghana’s Vice President and Head of what many now call the Economic Mismanagement Team feel when under his watch, many businesses have shut down, others have been deliberately destroyed, while many multinationals pack out of Ghana due to the debilitating economic conditions he has created, while his family business flourishes with numerous controversial contracts and a whopping GHS166.7million in direct GoG payments?”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The New Business Dichotomy
Moreover, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa pointed out that amidst the surge in business failures, a stark dichotomy has emerged in Ghana’s economic landscape, revealing two distinct realities: one for the privileged corporate elite and another for the struggling masses.
As such, he noted that the economic reality of nepotistic and crony businesses appears different from the economic reality of businesses not owned by relatives, assigns, and allies of those in charge.
Hon. Ablakwa stressed that as the list of businesses destroyed by the “anti-business” NPP government continues to grow exponentially, businesses belonging to families and close friends of people in government “have never had it this great”.
Moreover, the MP disclosed that further analysis of contracts awarded to Resources Access Limited points to a disturbing trend of apparent conflict of interest.
He revealed that Resources Access Limited, the Vice President’s family company, has been awarded contracts for military road rehabilitation projects at Teshie Camp, Southern Command, and MATS, while the Vice President chairs the Ghana Armed Forces Council, a clear conflict of interest.
“No Vice President and Chair of the Ghana Armed Forces Council in Ghana’s entire history has engaged in this deplorable conduct. Imagine what the NPP, CSOs, media, anti-corruption crusaders, and the larger Ghanaian society would have done to then Vice President John Mahama or then Vice President John Evans Atta Mills (God bless his soul) if during their respective tenures as Chair of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, road contracts or other contracts within the Ghana Armed Forces were awarded to their direct siblings?”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, he revealed that payment vouchers show Resources Access Limited receives prompt payments, unlike other contractors who face delayed payments, highlighting preferential treatment by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
Hon. Ablakwa stated that governments must foster a fair and inclusive business environment, benefiting all companies, not just those with familial or “crony” ties, stressing that Ghanaians deserve better.
“It is despicable that Bawumia cannot be trusted to practice what he preaches. It becomes clearer with each passing day why Bawumia and the NPP are desperately seeking to break the 8. But the Ghanaian people are determined, and nothing can stop judgment day”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
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