US court throws out case against Ghana

The District Court of Columbia has thrown out a fraud case against the government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

TJGEM company, a construction firm sued government, AMA and its boss Dr. Oko Vanderpuije, government, and former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwabena Duffour to court for conniving to deny them the contract.

They went to court demanding over $400 million dollars but the court ruled against the company.

TJGEM company claimed that the Accra Sewer System project which is currently being constructed by CONTI Incorporated of USA was their idea and disclosed the business plan to the Mayor with assurances that TJGEM company will execute the project eventually.

At a press conference, the AMA boss,Dr. Oko Vanderpuije on Wednesday stated that TJGEM had little experience as compared to CONTI Incorporated of USA who had over a hundred years’ experience in their construction of Drains and Sewer industries.

“A technical team that was set up to consider all bidding proposals and concluded that CONTI was the best choice for the project. TJGEM on the other had no experience,” the Mayor added.

“During my second trip to the US in March 2012, a memorandum of understanding was signed between CONTI and the Republic of Ghana where the then Minister of defense, Dr Kwabena Duffour appended his signature to the document on behalf of Ghana for commencement of the Accra Sewer System project.”

By: Pearl Akanya Ofori/citifmonline.com/Ghana