The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has responded to a petition by journalist, Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona, pledging to direct the commencement of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to Tata/IPMC Consulting Services.
Dowuona’s petition alleged that the contract for implementing an Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) was secured without due process, bypassing a competitive procurement process, and called for an immediate freeze on the agreement.
According to Dowuona, the GRA previously held a contract with Axon Information Systems, a Ghanaian company that had managed a similar tax system, the Ghana Integrated Tax Management and Information System (GITMIS), since 2008.
Despite Axon’s record of success, GRA, under Commissioner-General Julie Essiam’s leadership, signed a new contract with Tata Consulting Services, allegedly without a competitive bidding process.
Dowuona’s petition detailed an earlier procurement process, during which Axon, alongside Atos/Persol and Tata/IPMC, emerged as top bidders following a technical evaluation by KPMG. Axon reportedly presented the lowest financial proposal and highest evaluation score, giving it a clear edge.
However, GRA abruptly cancelled the procurement in August 2023, citing budget constraints. Within weeks, Tata was directly invited to submit a new proposal, bypassing competitive tender requirements.
Concerns deepened when details of the Tata contract only emerged during GRA’s appearance before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee in June 2024. Dowuona claims the GRA Board was not fully informed of the deal, raising questions about transparency in the process.
In his petition, Dowuona urged the OSP to halt any further payments to Tata until the investigation concludes, arguing that Axon’s existing contract remained valid until May 2025. The OSP has now informed Dowuona that it will take steps to initiate an investigation.
The OSP’s commitment to investigating the matter marks a significant step toward addressing transparency and accountability in public procurement. As the investigation unfolds, industry observers are watching closely, noting that the outcome may set a precedent for future government contracts in Ghana.
It would be recalled that the New Crusading GUIDE in our Monday 23rd October, 2024 edition published the above story under the headline: “GRA Boss in Dirty Tata Scandal! …Nii Narku Calls on OSP to Freeze Suspected Fraudulent Contract”
Stay tuned for further developments on this unfolding case.
