Stinking Deal for Ghana

It is curious and interesting how the Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), a lady by name Sylvia Asana Owu, managed to sign a contentious contract for and on behalf of the Authority without the consent, permission of even foreknowledge of her boss, the substantive Chief Executive Officer, Benonita Bismarck.

The contract agreement was signed on June 23, 2017 when the new Chief Executive Officer, Benonita Bismarck, was at post after she was appointed by President Akufo-Addo to head the GSA but was not informed about the contract.

It was a sole-sourced contract which was to last for twenty-five (25) years.

The agreement, signed by Asana Owu, was that the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) were jointly contracting a company by name LCB Worldwide (LCB) for the latter to fumigate all cargoes, vehicles and containers that would pass through the ports of Ghana.

It stated among other requirements that this fumigation would be exclusively done by LCB for the entire 25 years.

Unfortunately, this contract has provoked the wrath of stakeholders at Ghana’s ports who claim they do not want to be burdened by government to pay additional taxes just for fumigation.

Many exporters have also slammed government over the development as they are not sure whether the type of chemicals that would be used in the fumigation would not affect their products and make goods from Ghana become targets of scrutiny at their countries of destination.

Per the contract, the GSA is to grant LCB the exclusive right to carry out its service of disinfection at container terminals of the Port of Tema and followed by the Port of Takoradi and any other container terminal ports which will be established thereafter as entry and exit points.

The Government of Ghana, by the contract is also to ensure that all the necessary permits, licenses, authorizations and the required land or space within or at the entrance or exit points shall be granted LCB in accordance with the legal requirements.

THE PUBLISHER has gathered that the terms and agreements of the contract started under the former Chief Executive, Dr. Kofi Mbia under the former administration and even when he left the GSA, Asana who was his deputy managed to sign the deal although President Akufo-Addo had appointed a new CEO.

THE PUBLISHER has set up a desk exclusively for the Ghana Shippers Authority and the jaw dropping happenings there.

MORE SOON.

Source: thePublisher