The Board of the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF) says there is nothing untoward in the decision by the Fund to single source the procurement of some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as part of the broader national effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
There are media reports of an investigation by Corruption Watch, an anti-graft group, which has allegedly uncovered procurement breaches at the Zongo Development Fund.
According to the group, the management of the Fund allegedly superintended over the alleged breaches in the procurement process such as inflation of contract figures and breaching of the entity’s head threshold.
Corruption Watch further established that GH₵200,000 out of the GH₵5,000,000.00 was allegedly expended on contract for personal protective equipment for COVID-19.
However, the Board in a statement issued to clarify the matter dated Friday, August 14, 2020, stated that it approved the procurement of the Personal Protective Equipment as part of the broader national effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“At the time the items were procured, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and indeed, many public institutions were not fully operational in compliance with the partial lockdown measures announced by the President. Meanwhile, the PPEs were urgently needed to save lives”.
It added “Subsequent to procuring the items, the Chief Executive Officer of Zongo Development Fund, Arafat Sulemana Abdulai wrote to PPA in accordance with Section 90(3) (c) of Act 663 as amended for request for ratification of the procurement process for the items. By this action, the CEO subjected himself to investigation and has ratified the procurement processes”.
Touching on the allegation that an amount of GH₵4.8million (GH₵5,000,000 less cost of PPEs – GH₵200,000) was spent on goods and services without an approved procurement plan, the Board emphasized that all items procured were in accordance with the Zongo Development Fund procurement plan.
