Paul Adom-Otchere Remains in Custody Amidst GACL Contract Probe

Former Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) Board Chairman, Paul Adom-Otchere, is currently being held in custody by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) due to his inability to meet bail conditions. Adom-Otchere, along with two others, Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive of Commercial Services at GACL, and Albert Adjetey Adjei-Laryea, CEO of Devnest Systems, were formally charged and interviewed by the OSP.
The investigation centers on a revenue assurance contract between GACL and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), with the OSP probing possible procurement breaches. Specifically, the OSP is examining a sole-sourced contract awarded to a company other than the one approved by the GACL Board.
Bail Conditions
Adom-Otchere’s continued detention stems from his failure to meet the OSP’s bail conditions, which require him to present two landed properties registered in his name. However, Adom-Otchere has informed the OSP that he does not own any landed property in Ghana, making it impossible for him to satisfy the bail terms.
Background of the Investigation
The OSP’s investigation into the GACL contract has raised questions about the transparency and accountability of state-owned enterprises. Adom-Otchere, a well-known media personality, has expressed surprise at being singled out for questioning, given his non-executive role as Board Chairman. He claims that the contract in question was signed by the Managing Director of GACL and that he had no direct involvement in its execution.
The outcome of this investigation will likely have significant implications for governance and accountability in Ghana’s public sector.