DVLA officials to appear before Parliament over printing fraud

The Transport Committee of Parliament is beginning investigations into alleged fraudulent contract awarded Foto-X for the printing of driving license.

The committee is also probing into circumstances under which Foto-X was overpaid an amount of 15 million cedis.

This follows investigation by the Economic and Organized Crime Organization.

According to the investigation, Foto-X and Digimarc were to invest an amount of 2,772,000 US dollars and were to receive 80% of revenue that would accrue from the issuance of the drivers license. DVLA was entitled to 20%.

That contract was to last for 6 years. It expired in 2012 but the signing of another contract encountered some issues and has consequently led to the overpayment of some 15 million cedis, the DVLA concluded.

With the exchange rate of $1 to GHc2, the amount invested by the contractor USD2,772,000, profit inclusive, amounted to GHc5,544,000. However, Foto-X was paid a total of GHc 20,961,785. The overpaid amount is therefore GHc15,417,785. EOCO wants this amount retrieved as overpayment.

Chairman of the committee, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie told Joy News’ parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey they are saddened at the revelation and will make appropriate recommendation after its investigations.

As part of the investigations, Tetteh Chai said the committee will invite officials of the DVLA to appear before them.

He said due to the seriousness of the matter the committee will spare no effort in investigating and getting to the bottom of the matter.

“If EOCO has done extensive work on DVLA and certain findings have been made, as a committee it should be of interest to us because we are not into direct management. We oversee some of the things they do but it will be very difficult to unearth some malpractices in the institution.

“We have also programmed to meet DVLA and then all those issues will be brought to the fore,” he said.

He added that they are yet to be furnished with the details of the EOCO report.

Meanwhile, the EOCO has sent a docket of the investigations to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.

– Source: Joy FM