Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah
Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, a prominent radio presenter at Accra 100.5 FM, has formally urged Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor to launch an investigation into alleged corruption at the National Identification Authority (NIA). Known to listeners as Bobie Ansah, the broadcaster has raised serious concerns over irregularities within the NIA, as detailed in a 2023 audit report.
In his petition to the Special Prosecutor, Ansah outlined a range of issues that allegedly undermine the integrity of the NIA. These concerns include discrepancies in procurement processes, overpricing, under-invoicing of VAT, and non-transference of Internally Generated Funds (IGF). The petition highlights significant issues related to the procurement of tires and batteries, which are said to have violated tender specifications.
The focus of Ansah’s petition is on Section II – Tender Data Sheet (C. Preparation of Tenders) from the Tender Document number GR/NIA/GD/NCT/FWA/0005/2023. This document relates to a three-year Framework Agreement for the supply of tires and batteries. It specified that prices in the tender letter should reflect the total cost for the estimated quantities over the contract period.
The audit report reveals that Easytrans Ltd, a company that submitted a tender on 8 July 2023, was initially awarded the contract based on its lowest evaluated cost. Easytrans Ltd’s bid also came out as the lowest in a secondary procurement process for 262 tires and 33 batteries. However, the audit exposed a critical issue: the unit prices quoted by Easytrans Ltd in a request for quotations (RFQ) on 15 November 2023 were inflated by GH¢356,750.00. This represented an average increase of 76 percent over the prices initially quoted, with no justifiable reason provided.
Ansah’s petition underscores the significance of the NIA in upholding the credibility of Ghana’s national identification system. He argues that corruption within the NIA could severely damage public trust and undermine the institution’s effectiveness.
In his request, Ansah has called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. He has expressed confidence that an impartial inquiry will not only address these corruption allegations but also restore public confidence in the NIA. Ansah has pledged his full cooperation, offering to provide all necessary documents to aid the investigation.
“Corruption within such a vital institution is a threat to our governance and public trust,” Ansah stated. “I believe the Special Prosecutor’s office will uphold justice and integrity by conducting a thorough investigation.”
Ansah closed his statement by reaffirming his trust in the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s commitment to justice and expressing his hope for a swift and exhaustive inquiry into the matter.
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