Commentary on Resignation of Mrs. Ativor as Transport Minister 



NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE RESIGNATION OF MRS DZIFA ATIVOR AS TRANSPORT MINISTER OVER PUBLIC OUTCRY SURROUNDING RE-BRANDING OF 116 MMT BUSES AT A COST OF 3.6 MILLION GHANA CEDIS, 

Mrs. Dzifa Ativor, until last night, Ghana's Transport Minister has set a very high standards for all office holders. 

She did the most honorable when she tendered in her resignation as a Minister in the wake of the controversy surrounding the spraying and re-branding of 116 Metro Mass Transit buses. 

There was and there is still a huge public outcry over the whopping three point six million Ghana Cedis paid for the re-branding. 

In a country where majority does not appreciate and understand the principle of ultimate responsibility, it is to say the least most noble and honorable for Mrs. Ativor to have resigned on the basis of a mere public outcry. 

We lived in this country where worst things had happened, yet Ministers cliqued on to their positions. 

In the Kufour era, money meant to be paid to Black Stars players mysteriously disappeared from the custody of the then Sports Minister, Mallam Issa and when he was prevailed upon by Cabinet to resign, he refused and he had to be fired by the president and later prosecuted and jailed for causing financial loss to the state. This is a clear departure from that culture. 

In her resignation letter addressed to the president through the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ativor stated that as the Minister responsible for Transport, she had oversight responsibility for the activities of the Metro Mass Transit.  

But quick to add that though the Minister has resigned, that is certainly not the end of the matter.  

There are still a number of lingering questions that need urgent answers.  

Of course the Attorney General has already presented her report on the matter to the chief of staff, who has also given some consequential orders.  The chief of staff upon receipt of the AG's report requested the Attorney-General to recover one point nine million Ghana Cedis which is determined in the report to be the excess payment made for the service rendered.  

It is worthy to note that, the AG found out that, in giving out the contract, there was not cost comparisons to what was submitted by smartty's management because of the method of procurement and the procedures used.  

The AG minced no words, when she stated that the procurement method did not ensure value for money, especially when independent consultations made with some leading motor firms confirmed that the contract would have been executed at a cheaper cost, if other bids were considered and price comparisons made.  

What is not clear yet is to what extent the former Minister was involved in the whole saga.  

It is good the Chief of staff has ordered a refund of the excess money but there is the need for further investigations.  

The people of Ghana need to know and be told, how the whole business was transacted.  

We know the companies involved, Smarttys which also sublet it to another but who were the signatories especially from the Ministry of Transport or the Metro Mass Company.  

What role did others in the ministry and at Metro Mass play?  

All the people involved must be smoked out and when found culpable, the appropriate sanctions must be applied to them.  

Mrs. Attivor has resigned, and the excess money may be retrieved, we may not even be too sure of the retrieval because in past instances where orders were made for refund, the state has not been able to retrieve all such money as of yet, but that does not end the story.  

If laws have been broken, the law breakers must be dealt with in accordance with due process.  

But for now, we can salute Mrs. Ativor for her boldness and show of pure integrity. 


By George Darlington, a Student of Politics.

GBC