J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have said they will strongly fight a lawsuit filed by the Attorney-General.
They insist they do not owe the Government of Ghana any money under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) contract.
In a statement released in Accra, the company and Dr Agyepong rejected claims in a lawsuit seeking to recover US$2 million.
The Attorney-General alleges that the money is owed to the state under a contract linked to the DRIP programme.
JAPP said it was concerned that details of the lawsuit were widely reported in the media before the company and Dr Agyepong were officially served with the court documents. According to the company, this has damaged its reputation.
According to the statement, “severe and unjustified reputational damage has been caused JAPP, the Jospong Group of Companies and their local and international business partners by the action of the Attorney-General.”
The company and its Executive Chairman denied owing any money to the government under the contract. They maintained that they had fully met all their obligations.
“JAPP and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong categorically deny any indebtedness to the Government of Ghana or any of her agencies arising from the Contract dated 12th February 2024, executed pursuant to the DRIP programme,” the statement said.
JAPP explained that the contract was approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) before it was signed.
According to the company, the PPA granted approval on January 10, 2024, allowing the government to purchase machinery and equipment worth US$178.7 million from JAPP.
The company said both the PPA approval and the contract signed on February 12, 2024, carried the same contract value.
JAPP also argued that the Attorney-General is aware that the contract has already been completed and that all the machinery and equipment required under the agreement were delivered.
“As the Attorney General knows, the Contract has since been fully performed with JA Plant Pool duly supplying all machines and equipment to the Government of Ghana,” the company stated.
The company further said that every payment made under the contract followed the agreed terms.
“All payments required to be made under the Contract have been made in strict accordance with the terms of the Contract,” the statement added.
J.A. Plant Pool and Dr Agyepong described the lawsuit as an action brought in bad faith. They said they have instructed their lawyers to challenge the case in court.
“JA Plant Pool and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong consider the suit filed by the Attorney General to be in bad faith and have accordingly instructed their lawyers to challenge the suit and ensure its dismissal,” the statement said.
The company and Dr Agyepong also urged the public not to assume any wrongdoing based on the publicity surrounding the case.
They reaffirmed the Jospong Group’s commitment to transparency, accountability and lawful business practices. They also pledged to continue working constructively with all stakeholders, including the Government of Ghana.
“The Jospong Group of Companies continues to be committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, lawful conduct and constructive engagement with all stakeholders, including the Government of Ghana,” the statement concluded.
The case is expected to be decided in court, where J.A. Plant Pool and Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong say they will vigorously defend themselves and seek to have the claims dismissed.
