The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has detained prominent broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere, along with two others, in connection with a revenue assurance contract at the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), where he served as Board Chairman between 2021 and 2024.
The detention follows their appearance before the OSP on July 31 to assist with ongoing investigations. According to a statement from the OSP, the three individuals were held after failing to meet their respective bail conditions at the end of the day’s proceedings.
Mr. Adom-Otchere, the OSP revealed, was required to present two landed properties in Ghana registered in his name as part of his bail terms. However, he informed authorities that he does not own any such property in the country, leading to his continued detention.
Also in custody are Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive Officer of Commercial Services at GACL, and Albert Adjetey Laryea, Chief Executive Officer of Devnest Systems.
The case under investigation concerns a contract entered into between GACL and a private company, a subsidiary of Strategic Mobilization Limited. The OSP is examining possible breaches of procurement laws, particularly relating to the alleged award of a sole-sourced contract without the approval of the GACL Board.
“Mr. Adom-Otchere has so far been unable to meet his bail conditions. He is required to present two landed properties… However, he has informed the OSP that he does not own landed property in Ghana. As a result, he remains in custody until the bail terms are satisfied,” the OSP said in a statement on its social media platforms.
Strategic Mobilization Limited, the parent firm of the entity involved, has in recent months drawn public attention over its revenue assurance contracts with state institutions, notably the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Those contracts, reportedly worth billions of cedis, have sparked concerns about transparency and value for money.
The OSP says investigations are ongoing.
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Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh
