Akufo-Addo’s Daughter, Partner Face Scrutiny Over Sweetheart Contract

In a scandalous revelation by the Auditor General, it came to light that Service Ghana Auto Group, a company of questionable repute, was awarded a US$34.9 million contract by the Akufo-Addo government to supply spare parts for ambulances.

Recent information has surfaced indicating that the company is owned by the president’s daughter.

Publicly available documentation reveals that Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, a daughter of the President known for her alcoholism and oversight of the creative arts sector, is among the owners of Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.

She co-owns the company with her boyfriend, Stephen Okoro, a Nigerian national. According to the company’s profile in the national registry, Gyankroma and Stephen serve as co-Directors of Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.

This revelation sheds light on the corruption, nepotism, conflict of interest, and ethical lapses surrounding this controversial contract.

The contract, approved for Gyankroma’s nascent company by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta – who is a cousin to President Akufo-Addo and uncle to Gyankroma – raises concerns about familial favoritism within the government.

Ofori-Atta endorsed the contract shortly before leaving office amidst a vote of no confidence due to his handling of the economy.

Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, established after the government’s purchase of ambulances in April 2020, received the contract to service the vehicles the same year, bypassing standard procurement procedures.

Despite significant government payments totalling Ghc115,342,573 between 2020 and 2023, the company’s performance has been widely criticized for substandard maintenance practices and fraudulent activities.

Allegations suggest that Gyankroma and Stephen utilized National Ambulance Service personnel for maintenance tasks. The government’s decision to award an additional US$34,904,505 contract to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited despite these controversies has sparked further scrutiny and condemnation.

Critics argue that Gyankroma’s official role in the government poses a blatant conflict of interest and underscores President Akufo-Addo’s reputation for fostering nepotism and corruption.

This isn’t the first instance of Gyankroma leveraging her familial ties for financial gain. Previous scandals involving her exploitation of government connections for personal enrichment, including using a purported NGO to solicit funds from a bank, have tarnished her public image.

Amidst allegations of unethical behavior, such as driving under the influence and facilitating inappropriate engagements with foreign celebrities, questions about Gyankroma’s involvement in her mother’s financial dealings and her lucrative business ventures under her father’s administration have fueled criticisms of her conduct.

Gyankroma’s reported ownership of high-value assets, such as a multimillion-dollar restaurant in Accra and duty-free shops in Kotoka International Airport, coupled with lucrative government contracts for public projects, have intensified concerns about the fairness and transparency of her business dealings.

As scrutiny intensifies, Gyankroma Akufo-Addo’s leadership in the creative arts sector and her receipt of a US$25 million contract to paint interchanges in Accra raise further questions about the ethics and governance standards within the Akufo-Addo government.