The Coordinator for Design Associates Development Consortium, has petitioned the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, raising concerns over 12 projects awarded to Sir David Adjaye.
Acr. Dr Ekow Sam claims due process was not followed in the award of the contracts which include the National Cathedral, International Cancer Centre for Children among others.
According to Dr. Sam, although his company, Design Associates Development Consortium bid for some of the contracts together with Adjaye and Associates and won, a decision was taken to give the contract to the latter.
“Your Excellency, I am inclined to believe that you may not be aware of all these matters hence the need to bring them to your attention,” Dr. Sam said in his petition.
He added, “our concerns are premised on the total and absolute disregard and non-adherence to principles of transparency, fairness, equity and the laws governing the procurement of professional services by statutory bodies and companies.”
He also claims Sir Adjaye who is the principal architect for Adjaye and Associates, is not licensed to carry on the profession of an architect under the Architects Decree 1968 (NRCD 357).
He further alleges that Sir Adjaye is not a member of the Ghana Institute of Architects and neither he nor Adjaye and Associates is registered by the Architects Registration Council pursuant to the Architects Decree (NRCD 357) as amended.
Dr. Sam added that Sir Adjaye not being ordinarily resident in Ghana, is disqualified from being registered as an Architect licensed to practice in Ghana under the Architects Decree 1968 (NRCD 357).
“In spite of the foregoing, all the statutory institutions have failed to adhere to the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended by the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 915).
“This Act was intended to sanitise the mode of procurement of goods and services, an intendment carried further by you through the establishment of a Ministry of Procurement,” he stated in the petition.
Dr. Sam said due to the monopolisation of awarding projects to foreign architects and engineers, a negative impression and image has been created in the public that locally trained Architects and Engineers are incompetent and not qualified to undertake such projects.
A notion he describes as “totally untrue.”
He want President Akufo-Addo to nip what he describes as an unfair practice in the bud and ensure that governmental activities would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
“Further, that the procurement laws of the country are adhered to so as to protect the public purse and give assurance to the public.”
Below is a copy of the petition:
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