Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has told the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Hadzide, that he is a corrupt fellow.
According to Edem Agbana, Pius Hadzide is an example of someone who does not deserve to speak on corruption because your records are there.
He detailed that Pius Hadzide’s own minister accused him of engaging in visa racketeering, with the issue remaining unresolved to this day.
Edem Agbana responds follow Pius Hadzide during the TV3 New Day discussion, who claimed President Mahama’s silence on a sole-sourcing procurement contract suggests he is complicit.
However, Edem Agbana insisted that Hadzide is unfit to comment on corruption-related matters.
Speaking on TV3 New Day, Edem Agbana stated, “You are an example of someone who does not deserve to speak on corruption because your records are there. You are not clean, and I can quote members of your party. In fact, when you were appointed by Bryan Acheampong, I heard members of your party, including members from Dr Bawumia’s camp and Kennedy Agyapong’s camp, say that someone like you has no integrity and no clean record.
“Your own minister accused you of engaging in visa racketeering, and that issue remains unresolved to this day. I am not Asiama, your minister, said you engaged in visa racketeering. So when Akufo-Addo cleared you, which report did he rely on?” he said.
According to Edem Agbana, no “serious political party” would assign Pius Hadzide to represent them in discussions on corruption due to his track record while in office.
“Your minister says you are corrupt. For that reason, you were removed from the Sports Ministry, yet you sit on TV and suggest that because Hon. Agbodza awarded sole-sourced contracts, President Mahama’s silence could mean he is complicit. How dare you?
“You are a corrupt fellow. If we want to be serious, as you suggested, no serious political party will send you to represent them to speak on corruption,” he added.
In related news, President John Dramani Mahama has instructed his office to obtain the full detailed report from the Fourth Estate concerning the Road Ministry’s GH¢73b Big Push sole sourcing contracts.
According to President John Dramani Mahama, his office is to conduct a study of the various allegations presented in the report.
President Mahama also directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to answer all the allegations made in the report.
Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, March 30, Mahama explained, “I note the recent expose by the Fourth Estate on procurement processes related to the award of contracts under the Big Push programme. While sole sourcing is legal under certain circumstances under our current procurement law, we all agree that open, transparent tenders are always preferable for achieving competitive pricing and value for money.
“Although we’ve seen snippets of the investigation from the media, I’ve instructed my office to obtain the full detailed report from the Fourth Estate and to conduct a study of the various allegations presented in the report. We’re also requesting the Ministry of Roads and Highways to present a detailed response to those allegations made therein, in order to inform the government’s action on the matter,” he said.
Also, Mahama has announced that his government will introduce amendments to the Public Procurement Act to limit single sourcing.
“And it is precisely for such situations that I announced that the government will introduce amendments to the Public Procurement Act to limit single sourcing, to promote greater transparency and ensure proper value for money for the money we spend on projects. I’ve also requested the Minister of Finance to fast-track the setup of the independent value-for-money office, since the amendment to the procurement legislation will require that all single-source procurements be subject to rigorous value-for-money review,” he said.
Watch the video below:
@ghanapoliticsinside No serious political party will send you to speak on corruption. Edem Agbana tells Pius Hadzide. #fypppp ♬ original sound – Ghanapoliticsinside