President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) with immediate effect.
Mr Adjei has also been disqualified from holding public office for the next five years.
His appointment was terminated hours after the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recommended to the President that he should be sacked.
The Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr. Joseph Whittal, concluded in a report that “on the totality of the evidence, Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei had put himself in a position where his personal interests conflicted with the performance of his functions as CEO and Board Member of the PPA.”
The report also stated that he abused his high office of trust.
CHRAJ Praises Akufo-Addo
Meanwhile, CHRAJ has commended President Akufo-Addo for submitting a complaint against the dismissed PPA boss, pointed out that this only is the second time in history.
“The Commission would like to commend H.E the President for promptly submitting the complaint together with the documentary and requesting expeditious investigations into the allegations of conflict of interest against
the Respondent.
“This is the second time in the history of the Commission that a sitting President has brought a complaint before the Commission in respect of his own appointees.
“The first was former President Jerry John Rawlings in the mid-1990s.
“We are encouraged by this exemplary conduct of the Office of the President
and look forward to more of such commendable practices of using
appropriate designated investigation bodies of State,”, CHRAJ stated.
The Commission also commended Manasseh Azure Awuni for the public spiritedness and industry that went into the documentary he produced that kick-started this investigation as well as his cooperation with the Commission.
Furthermore, the Commission applauded the Ministry of Works and Housing for its timely submission of information to the Commission as well as the Respondent and his Counsel and all the witnesses who attended upon the Commission and provided evidence either oral and/or documentary for their cooperation.
Background
It would be recalled that on 22nd August 2019, President Akufo-Addo suspended Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei from office, following the broadcast of allegations made against him in an investigative documentary conducted by Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled “Contracts for Sale”.
In the documentary, Manasseh Azure Awuni revealed that a company called Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), which Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei co-owned, sold government contracts it won through single-source and restrictive tendering to the highest bidder.
Mr Adjei was subsequently suspended by the President in August 2019.
Directive to CHRAJ
In suspending Mr Adjei, President Akufo-Addo also directed CHRAJ and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate his appointee for conflict of interest and corruption.
Having satisfied himself of the fact that the recommendation made by CHRAJ was properly motivated and well-founded, the President on Friday, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Joseph Whittal and CHRAJ for the thorough and methodical manner in which the matter was addressed.
