Adom Otchere’s Airport Xmass Tree Theft Deepens -Transport Minister Reveals Can of Worms

The Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Christmas decoration scandal has taken a new twist as attempts by officials to cover up have further exposed Paul Adom-Otchere, Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company (GACL), as a fraud.

When the scandal broke shortly after the Christmas holidays this year that Paul Adom-Otchere had fraudulently procured a bunch of Christmas decorations for a whopping GHC 128,000, the stunned GACL boss launched an image-cleaning campaign claiming the amount was not that high and that the airport company procured the decorations for GHC 34,000.

He proceeded to pat himself on the back, claiming that amount was the lowest ever in the history of the airport.

However, a Right To Information (RTI) request by the Fourth Estate managed by investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has exposed a deep attempt by state agencies to cover up the massive theft.

In the RTI request to the Transport Ministry, the Fourth Estate received a response saying that the Christmas décor was rented and not bought.

“Please be informed that the Christmas decorations for 2021 were rented and not procured for by the GACL. Hence there was no procurement nor bidding process for the award of contract,” the Ministry of Transport said.

In the letter, the Ministry said there was “no procurement nor bidding process” for the award of contract.”

The Ministry, headed by Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, also said even the rented decorations were paid for by a sponsor, implying that the GACL incurred no cost whatsoever on the 2021 Christmas decorations.

“For emphasis, we wish to reiterate that the Christmas decorations in question were rented and paid for by a sponsor. Therefore, no contract was awarded by GACL for the purpose,” the Ministry said.

On January 7, 2022, just when the scandal storm had begun, Adom Otchere, in a hurried bid to quench matters issued a statement claiming the issue had been grossly misrepresented.

Mr. Adom-Otchere then explained in a bulleted release that the GACL paid GHS 118,000 for the decorations, out of which GHS50, 000 was paid by a sponsor.

As the Fourth Estate points out, Adom Otchere had emphasized that “We put out a statement that the Christmas tree was bought for 34,000 cedis,” while referencing Pro-forma invoices from the two companies which provided the service Jandel Limited and Favors and Arts.

A Pro-forma invoice from Jandel Limited for “Terminal 3 Arrival Hall (a decorated Christmas tree with lights), lighting décor on the trees around the lawn, and decoration of existing trees” amounted to a total of GHC 38,775, while a similar Pro-forma invoice from Favors and Arts amounted to GHC 90,500

The Pro-forma invoice from Favors and Arts was addressed directly to the Board Chairman, Adom Otchere and this raised browse about proper corporate governance at the GACL.

However, the statement from the Ministry of Transport has conclusively proven that the contradictory story around the dubious decoration was a theft perpetrated by Paul Adom-Otchere acting as the Board Chairman of the GACL.