Paul Adom-Otchere, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has been formally charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged procurement irregularities. He remains in custody after failing to meet bail conditions set by the OSP.
The investigation centers on a revenue assurance contract awarded by GACL to a private firm linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML). Authorities are probing whether the contract was improperly sole-sourced and whether it bypassed the company originally approved by the GACL Board. The inquiry forms part of a broader effort to scrutinize procurement practices within state institutions.
Adom-Otchere was required to present two landed properties registered in his name as part of his bail conditions. However, he has informed investigators that he does not own any such properties in Ghana, resulting in his continued detention.
Also charged in the matter are Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive for Commercial Services at GACL, and Albert Adjetey Adjei-Laryea, Chief Executive Officer of Devnest Systems. Both individuals are being questioned over their roles in the contract’s approval and execution.
While the investigation continues, legal experts and civil society observers have urged the public to respect the presumption of innocence and allow the rule of law to take its course. Mr. Adom-Otchere and the other accused persons are entitled to due process, and any determination of guilt must be made by the courts based on evidence.
The OSP has reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in public procurement, emphasizing that its mandate is to ensure that contracts awarded by state agencies adhere to legal and ethical standards. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for governance practices across Ghana’s public sector.