Ghana’s Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu has alleged that the CEO of Smartty’s Management Ltd., Selassie Ibrahim, is fronting for a Chinese firm in a $98 million deal with government. This follows the recent revelation that the same company has been paid almost $1 million to brand 110 public buses for the government.
Mr. Mensah Bonsu said Mrs. Ibrahim is the main signatory to a $98 million electrification deal presented to parliament for endorsement.
According to him, proposals for the deal between government and the unnamed Chinese firm was authored by Smartty’s, and was contained in documents brought to parliament for approval.
“Selassie was fronting for a Chinese company involved in some electrification project for which this nation will have to cough up $98 million,” he said in a radio interview in Accra yesterday.
The Minority Leader said it is not advisable for government to consider any company associated with Selassie Ibrahim for a contract until she has been cleared in the bus branding scandal.
“This is a woman who is involved in some impropriety. The matter is pending. It is on the front burner and then we allow her to front for a Chinese company and offer her a contract to the tune of $98 million,” he said.
Last week, there was uproar among civil society when news broke that Smartty’s Management Ltd. had been paid about $1 million to brand some 110 buses for government. Investigations were launched into the matter resulting in the resignation of Transport Minister Dzifa Ativor.
Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Julius Debrah, also issued a directive ordering Smartty’s to refund almost $500,000 to the state.
Mrs. Ibrahim is a known friend of President John Dramani Mahama who was the Guest of Honor at the launching of her company back in 2010. She is also the wife of Ibrahim Adam, a one-time Minister of Food and Agriculture who was jailed by the John Kuffour government for causing financial loss to the state.