Smartty’s asked to refund GH¢1.9m excess payment for rebranding 116 buses

The company embroiled in the payment of GH¢3.6 million for the spraying and rebranding of 116 Metro Mass Transit buses purchased by the government has been asked to refund GH¢1.9 million, according to a statement from the Office of the President.

News broke in the last week that the Ghana government has paid an amount of GH¢3.6 million out of the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) which is from the country’s oil revenues, for the rebranding of the buses with the photos of current president, John Mahama and former presidents.

The news caused a stir in the country.

Following public outcry, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debra instructed the Attorney General to investigate the matter and issue a report.

According to the Presidency, “the Chief of Staff, Mr. Debrah has, upon receipt of the Attorney General’s report on the spraying and branding of 116 new buses procured for the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited, requested the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to recover from Messrs Smartty’s Management Limited, a total of GH¢1.9 million, which is determined in the report to be excess payment made for the service rendered.”

“In her report submitted on Tuesday, the Attorney General, Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong found that there were no cost comparisons to what was submitted by Smartty’s Management because of the method of procurement and the procedures used.

The procurement method, the report noted, did not also ensure value for money. Independent consultations made by the Attorney General with some leading motor firms in the country confirmed that the contract would have been executed at a cheaper cost if other bids were considered and price comparisons made,” the statement said.

Hours after the report was submitted to the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor, under whose Ministry the transaction was made resigned her post.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi