– NAPO did nothing untoward
– Deal properly scrutinised before approval
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All attempts to find fault to taint the image of the former Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh with wrong doings in connection with procurement of KAPEK Mathematical Instrument for West African Examinations Council examination, have failed, as he was found to have done nothing untoward.
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Facts adduced from documents gleaned through on the procurement of Mathematical Instrument have it that Dr. Prempeh and other officials involved in the securing of the all-important Mathematical Sets, followed the laid-down procedure and due diligence in awarding the contract.
It is also emerging that the arrest of the Managing Director of the company involved in the supply of the Mathematical Sets, Bluegrass Group Limited, Kwadwo Darko-Mensah alias Onasis, has nothing to do with the Mathematical Instrument supply, but firearms-related.
It has also been established that Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the then Deputy Minister of Education, who was reported in media to have had no knowledge in the whole procurement issue, was indeed in the known, as he signed some of the correspondences that went on between the Ministry of Education and the supplier.
Per authentic documents on the deal, Cornfield Transnational Limited, on December 6, 2018 wrote to the Ministry of Education introducing Bluegrass Group Limited and the Scientific Mathematical tool that was examination compliant (a maths set and a non-programmable scientific calculator combined).
Minister then wrote to the Ghana Education Service (GES) on this matter, as the GES has a seat on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) International’s council and runs senior highs schools in the country.
GES subsequently wrote to WAEC for further clarification.
WAEC in a letter dated February 5, 2019, alerted the GES of a policy requiring candidates to use only customized WAEC mathematical set, an indication the Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instruments (SMI) were needed for the students for the West Africa Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
WAEC in that communication to GES stated that the issue of malpractice had been discussed extensively in a retreat organised by the council in 2018 in Lagos.
Members agreed that the council should formulate a policy requiring students to use only WAEC-approved sets of mathematical instruments.
Subsequently, WAEC wrote to GES explaining that the mathematical sets were designed with Cornfield Ltd.
The Director-General of GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, wrote to the Minister, copying him the WAEC letter of 5th February 2019 and a letter from Cornfield Limited, recommending the procurement of WAEC-approved mathematical sets to be used in WAEC exams as they fall in line with WAEC recommendations and requirements.
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The Ministry of Education, on March 12, 2019, wrote to the Public Procurement Authority for approval to procure items by sole-sourcing.
On due to urgency of having the instruments in place for the 2020 WASSCE, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, at a price of GH¢75 per item, totalling GH¢63,975,675 for 853,009 pieces.
The PPA in a letter dated May 16, 2019, approved the education ministry’s request for the procurement of the SMI after it had satisfied itself with all information provided by the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education, therefore, proceeded to sign contract agreement for the supply of the 853,009 Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instrument (SMI) at a unit cost GH¢75 and not $75 as quoted in the grimy agenda against the former education minister.
The total cost of the entire supply was GH¢63, 975,675.00.
Unfortunately, the delivery of the items for the May/June 2020 WASSCE was delayed due to COVID restrictions which affected production abroad, and the first batch did not arrive in time for the benefit of the candidates.
However, candidates for 2021 and beyond will benefit from them and the intention is to purchase them for all Senior High School (SHS) students to enable them familiarize with the items in preparation for their examinations.
The first batch that was received has been paid for and payment for the remainder will be made upon receipt.
It is therefore instructive to know that, the former Minister of Education does not know the CEO of Bluegrass Limited in person and until his vetting on Friday 11th February 2021 was not aware of his earlier arrest by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) on 29th January 2021.
It is equally worthy of note that Cornfield Transnational Limited has terminated the agreement it had with Bluegrass Group Limited regarding the SMI.
More To Come!
Source: The Inquisitor
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