Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s DI Caught Squeezing Cash out Of Rotten PPA

The wanton decimation of funds from state institutions by family members of President Akufo Addo continues, as President Akufo Addo’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s Danquah Institute (DI) has been exposed for extracting some GHC 490,000 from the scandal-prone Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to train its political loyalists.

Whatsup News has intercepted a February 15, 2019 letter written by the DI’s Executive Director to PPA requesting almost half a million cedis to organise a short seminar on instating the values of the Danquah-Busia political ideology in their “new generation of leaders”.

“Further to my initial enquiry, I am officially writing to respectfully as if the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) can financially assist the Danquah Institute with our “Leadership Series Initiative”. The assistance sought will mainly cover the cost of operations and logistics for the programme. Through this programme (sic) the Danquah Institute is determined to inspire a new generation of leaders who understand the beliefs and values of the Danquah Dombo Busia tradition. It is our hope that you grant this request and consider the Danquah Institute as one of your key partners in your social responsibility programmes.” DI’s Executive Director, Edward Kwaku Asomani wrote to the now-sacked corrupt Chief Executive Officer of the PPA, A. B Adjei who was found to have stolen over GHC 45 million in just two years of being appointed PPA boss.

Whatsup News has also sighted the itemised bill given to the PPA. In it, they were given a staggering GHC 300,000 for transportation; GHC 32,000 for accommodation, GHC 24,000 for allowances, among others. In total, the bill summed up to GHC 490,000.

This request is curious because the PPA is purely a regulatory body responsible solely for the effective implementation of the Public Procurement Law enacted to check government contracts. It is therefore strange that PPA is giving out donations to private entities, particularly ones linked to political parties.

The taxing of public institutions by private foundations owned by family and friends of President Akufo Addo has become a disturbing trend that has sparked serious criticisms in the past few months.

Recently, three daughters of President Akufo Addo set up a foundation called My Sisters’ Keeper and used it to arm-twist several state institutions off staggering sums in “donations” allegedly used to empower vulnerable women.

Before then, President Akufo Addo’s Wife’s Rebecca Foundation succeeded in browbeating the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) almost GHC 2 million for alleged humanitarian projects.

President Akufo Addo’s hometown chief was not left out in this rampage, as Okyenhene Amoatia Ofori-Panyin was between 2017 and 2019 given some GHC 2.5 million to celebrate his 20th anniversary on the throne, as well as “plant trees”.

Angry Ghanaian public have expressed disgust at the rate at which nepotism in the Akufo Addo administration is eroding scarce public funds.