J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have vowed to vigorously contest a lawsuit filed by the Attorney-General seeking to recover an alleged US$2 million linked to the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), insisting that no money is owed to the Government of Ghana.
In a statement issued on behalf of the company and its Executive Chairman, JAPP described the Attorney-General’s action as unfounded and maintained that the contract in question was lawfully executed and fully performed.
According to the company, the contract, signed on February 12, 2024, followed approval by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on January 10, 2024, for the procurement of equipment and machinery under the DRIP initiative at a total cost of US$178.7 million.
JAPP stressed that both the PPA approval and the subsequent contract clearly stated the agreed contract sum and that all equipment required under the agreement had been supplied to the Government of Ghana. The company further argued that all payments made under the contract were carried out strictly in accordance with its terms.
The company also expressed concern over what it described as extensive media coverage of the lawsuit before it had been formally served with the court processes, claiming the publicity had caused reputational damage to J.A. Plant Pool, the Jospong Group of Companies and their local and international business partners.
“We categorically deny any indebtedness to the Government of Ghana or any of its agencies arising from the contract executed pursuant to the DRIP programme,” the statement said.
JAPP and Dr. Agyepong further accused the Attorney-General of acting in bad faith and disclosed that their legal team had been instructed to challenge the suit and seek its dismissal.
The company urged the public to disregard any allegations of wrongdoing arising from the case, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, lawful conduct and constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders.
The legal dispute adds a new dimension to ongoing public discussions surrounding the implementation of the District Road Improvement Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure and enhancing service delivery at the local government level.
