Paul Adom-Otchere ordered to stay off GACL management

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Paul Adom-Otchere, has been ordered by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ to stay off the company’s management. This follows the conclusion of the investigation after a private citizen petitioned the Commission to probe Paul Adom-Otchere’s engagement with the management of the company.

Paul Adom-Otchere was embroiled in a procurement saga following reports that he interfered in the procurement process for a Christmas tree in 2021. The Christmas tree was said to have cost GHS118,000 but CHRAJ revealed the actual cost was GHS128,000.

Sacut Amenga-Etego, a journalist based in Accra, petitioned CHRAJ in 2022 seeking several reliefs, including the recommendations for the removal of Paul Adom-Otchere from the Board of GACL.

The petition sought among others “An order directed at the Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL) to surcharge the Respondent for the amounts involved in the procurement breaches and to recommend his removal as Board Chairman; and

“A reference by the Commission to the appropriate authorities of its investigations and recommendation for the prosecution of Mr Otchere.”

However, CHRAJ in its report said, “The procurement of the Christmas inspirations was done by the management albeit with some active participation by the Respondent in the sense that he requested for an Invoice from one of the suppliers, Favors and Arts”. 

CHRAJ did not grant the relief seeking to remove Paul Adom-Otchere from office nor surcharged him. It said the investigations could not find any evidence that Paul benefited from the procurement and thus could not be surcharged or recommended for sacking.

“Our investigations have also not revealed any facts pointing to any criminal offence committed by the Respondent. 

“For that reason, we are unable to refer him to any authority for further investigations. We do not find any merit in recommending him for prosecution by the Attorney-General. In effect, we are unable to grant relief three.”

However, CHRAJ said the interference of Paul Adom-Otchere was against corporate governance principles.

“The interference of Mr Otchere in the procurement of Christmas trees by the GACL and communications by him were contrary to the principles of corporate government.”

CHRAJ also asked GACL to treat the rental of Christmas trees on the principles of procurement laws. It also urged the Public Procurement Authority to amend Act 663 to clearly include the definition of “procurement”.