World Bank bans African subsidiaries of Oxford University Press three years for corruption

The World Bank Group today July 3, 2012 announced that it has banned two subsidiaries of the Oxford University Press (OUP) for three years after the two were cited for corrupt acts in relation to two of World Bank-financed education projects in East Africa.

The two units of the OUP are the Oxford University Press East Africa Limited (OUPEA) and Oxford University Press Tanzania Limited (OUPT) and according to the Bank, the two companies made improper payments to government officials for two contracts to supply text books in relation to two World Bank-financed projects.

In May 2011, investigators from the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) approached OUP about potential misconduct in Africa.  Following this, OUP conducted an internal investigation into its operations and reported its findings to INT.

In a statement, the World Bank said “The debarment is part of a Negotiated Resolution Agreement between OUP and the World Bank Group.”

“…OUPEA and OUPT will be debarred for three years and OUP will receive a conditional non-debarment. In addition, in order to remedy part of the harm done by the misconduct, OUP has agreed to make a payment of $500,000 to the World Bank as part of the Negotiated Resolution,” the statement said.

The debarment of OUPEA and OUPT qualifies for cross-debarment by other MDBs under the Agreement of Mutual Recognition of Debarments that was signed on April 9, 2010, the statement adds.

By Ekow Quandzie