CHRAJ Lied, Watered Down Public Procurement Boss’ Thievery-Kevin Taylor

US-based Ghanaian Investigative Journalist, Kevin Taylor is set to release documentary evidence proving that the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) had deliberately watered down the true amount of money stolen by the disgraced Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority AB Adjei.

Mr. Taylor hinted that he will release the documents proving that CHRAJ, the Special Prosecutor, Martin A.B.K Amidu and the Jubilee House colluded to present a less serious exposure pf the amounts of money laundered by the PPA boss while he was in office.

Late last week, President Akufo Addo had dismissed AB Adjei following a report issued by CHRAJ, nailing him for money laundering and using his office to personally profit himself to the tune of US$ 1.8 million or approximately GHC 10.6 million between 2017 and 2019 in multiple bank accounts linked to him.

Indeed, in the CHRAJ report released last week and signed by its Commissioner Joseph A. Whittal, the human rights commission stated unequivocally that there was sufficient evidence against AB Adjei that he “used his office improperly to the benefit of TDL (Talent Discovery Ltd), a company in which he has personal (financial and relational) interest.”

CHRAJ also admitted that AB Adjei had “handled large volumes of cash exceedingly in excess of his known income as CEO of PPA.”

However, according to Mr. Taylor, the CHRAJ report on the scandal was sent to the Jubilee House where the true figures pocketed by AB Adjei was massaged to the much lower quantum that CHRAJ presented in its report. 

Kevin Taylor alleged that per the documents he had intercepted, other institutions such as the Auditor-General’s Department and the Office of the Special Prosecutor have played major roles in the cover-up.

It is currently unclear what roles they played as details emerge on Monday.

Already, President Akufo Addo last week, dismissed AB Adjei in conjunction with recommendations contained in the CHRAJ report that bars him from holding any public office for five years.

AB Adjei’s fraudulent exploits at the PPA broke on Wednesday, 21st August 2019, when Joy TV News aired a documentary produced by Manasseh titled “Contracts for Sale”.

In the documentary, AB Adjei was caught ambushing public procurement contracts and channelling them through his private company TDL. Most of the contracts never went through the required procurement process and were sole-sourced to his company.

After much public outcry, President Akufo Addo was forced to suspend AB Adjei from the PPA and the matter was subsequently referred to CHRAJ and the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigation and appropriate action