Accra: The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has initiated legal action against businessman Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong and his company, J.A Plantpool Ghana Limited. The lawsuit concerns an alleged overpayment of $2 million related to the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) under the NPP government.
According to Ghana Web, court documents reveal that in 2024, the Government of Ghana entered into an agreement with J.A Plantpool for the supply of equipment for the DRIP initiative. The agreed contract sum between the parties was $178,704,739.50.
The lawsuit claims that while the total amount at the bottom of the contract's schedule of equipment is stated as $178,704,739.50, a precise calculation of the listed items totals $176,704,739.50. This discrepancy, as noted by the Attorney General, results in an overstatement of $2 million.
The contract reportedly covered nine categories of equipment, with unit and total costs detailed in the attached schedule. The Attorney General contends that the contract sum reflected the incorrect total at the bottom of the schedule rather than the correct figure calculated from the itemized costs.
Despite this alleged error, the state is reported to have paid the full amount of $178,704,739.50 to J.A Plantpool. The Attorney General stated that requests for a refund of the alleged excess payment have been made, but the funds have not been returned.
Consequently, the state is seeking a court order for Dr Siaw Agyepong and J.A Plantpool Ghana Limited to refund the alleged overpayment of $2 million.