How Mahama and Akufo-Addo used MPS deal at the Port to rob Ghanaians exposed in an international magazine
The circumstances surrounding how then President of Ghana John Mahama bent the rules and laws of Ghana to unilaterally sell out Ghana cheap through the Meridian Ports Services (MPS) agreement has been exposed in an international magazine’s exposé on Ghana.
While the details of how Ghana got cheated of millions and millions of dollars under John Mahama’s leadership and personal order on the deal is unbelievable, Ghanaians have expressed more shock that President Akufo-Addo’s government and officials appear to have also been bought wholesale by the strongman behind the entire deal, Vicent Bolloré, a shrewd French businessman who has been fingered in bribe payment to the President of Togo over similar port deals.
According to an investigative report commissioned by the Akufo-Addo government on the MPS deal in 2018, “the terms of the agreements between MPS and the state are so tilted against Ghana’s interests.. and should be renegotiated immediately.
Yet as at today, the much-criticized contract and its very unpatriotic terms remain unchanged even under Akufo-Addo.
The facts of the matter is that from 2005, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) started work on its Master Plan to improve the port and invited specialist companies to take an interest, to prequalify and followed the procedures of transparent procurement.
The process was ongoing until late Atta Mills took over power and committed to continue and finish it. But he died mid 2012 for John Mahama to take over.
MPS then approached GPHA with its own plan around the same time for the new Tema terminal. The report says this was designed ‘to satisfy MPS only’ and did not fit with the Master Plan which GPHA had prepared. Accordingly, GPHA patriotically rejected the MPS’ proposals.
MPS proposal was also rejected because 56 companies, 20 of which had already been shortlisted for the construction contract were all on course. Another 15 companies had bid for the operating contract, and Ghana’s civil servants were also working on the deal to an advanced stage. Note that MPS had previously shown no interest in bidding or prequalifying and had not even applied.
However, on 13 November, 2014, President Mahama without recourse to the laws of Ghana changed the game said MPS had made Mahama an offer amd proceeding on that, without any documentation available to support anything ordered the GPHA to award the contract immediately, exclusively, and without tendering or competitive bidding to MPS.
According to the report sighted on Mynewsgh.com, more revelations are yet to come on how the now sick old Alhaji Asuma Banda came to own 12.9% of the MPS deal and how GPHA’s 30% became 15% and back to 30% at a cost hidden from Ghanaians.
While at it, the John Mahama government, without putting the nation first, granted a tax waiver of $832million on the $1.1billion MPS investment, which meant the actual investment by MPS was less than $300m and Ghana had been fleeced on the blindside of Ghanaian MPs who approved the waiver.
While Akufo-Addo was expected to right the wrongs done Ghana in this deal, he has acquiesced to the corruption and sought to cover it up although official investigations report Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia authorized showed the deal is not in the interest of Ghana.
Persons who have spoken out strongly against the MPS deal previously have either been silenced with new positions or sacked from their positions.
Meanwhile, Peter MacManu sits on the board of MPS and the GPHA, a clear scenario that shows Akufo-Addo and his government are all but in bed with John Mahama on this spectacular corruption that has blown up.
