Suspended PPA CEO: Conflict of interest not defined in constitution- Emile Short

A former judge and head of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has waded into conflict of interest allegation involving boss of the Public Procurement Authority.

Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei was on Tuesday hauled to CHRAG by the president on conflict of interest charges.

It follows investigations by freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni which revealed that Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), a company incorporated in June 2017, has won a number of government contracts through restrictive tendering at the time he was the PPA boss.

The investigative piece which aired on Joy News showed further that of the two directors and shareholders of TDL, one of them is the CEO of the PPA, Adjenim Boateng Adjei.

Writing to the PPA, secretary to the president, Mr. Asante Bediatuo said “I am directed by the president of the Republic to refer to the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice allegations of Conflict of interest made against Mr. Adjenin Boateng Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority in a documentary titled ‘Contracts for Sale a Manasseh Awuni Investigations’”

Commenting on the development on Adom FM Friday, a Former Commissioner of CHRAG said the constitution of Ghana neither defines the meaning or scope of conflict of interest.

Even worse, he adds a ‘Conduct of Public Officers bill 2013, which among other things explains what conflict of interest is is yet to be passed by parliament into law.

“The Ghana Anti-corruption campaign has been calling on parliament to pass this bill as quickly as possible because it is a very critical and important piece of legislation in the fight against corruption,” he said.

He added that when this bill is passed it will clarify issues of conflict of interest, asset declaration and related issues.

In the face of a lack, Commissioner Short explained that over the years CHRAG has been relying on a draft guideline the organization did to determine complaints of conflict of interest.