J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have rejected claims by the Attorney-General that the company owes the state $2 million under a contract executed as part of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), vowing to vigorously contest the lawsuit in court.
In a statement the company said it had taken note of the legal action seeking to recover the amount allegedly owed to the government, insisting that neither JAPP nor Dr. Agyepong is indebted to the state.
The company also expressed concern over what it described as extensive media coverage of the lawsuit before it had been formally served with court documents, arguing that the publicity had caused significant reputational harm to the company, the Jospong Group of Companies, and their business partners.
“JAPP and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong categorically deny any indebtedness to the Government of Ghana or any of her agencies arising from the contract dated 12th February 2024, executed pursuant to the DRIP programme,” the statement said.
According to the company, the contract followed approval granted by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on 10 January 2024, authorising the government to procure machinery and equipment from JAPP at a total cost of $178.7 million.
JAPP stated that both the PPA approval and the subsequent contract clearly specified the contract value and that the company had fully delivered all equipment required under the agreement.
“As the Attorney-General knows, the contract has since been fully performed with JA Plant Pool duly supplying all machines and equipment to the Government of Ghana,” the statement said.
The company further maintained that all payments made under the agreement were executed strictly in accordance with the terms of the contract.
The Attorney-General’s lawsuit forms part of ongoing government efforts to review contracts and recover funds it believes may be owed to the state.
However, JAPP insists the claim is without merit and says it will defend its position before the courts. The full statement issued by JA Plant Pool reads as follows;
“J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (“JAPP”) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have taken note of a suit filed by the Honorable Attorney-General purporting to recover the sum of Two Million United States Dollars (US$2,000,000.00) alleged by the Attorney-General to be owed under a contract executed and duly performed by JA Plant Pool (GH) under the District Road Improvement Programme (“DRIP”).
“Given the widespread publication of the suit in the media even before it was served on JA Plant Pool (GH) Limited and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Court has had the opportunity of determining same, severe and unjustified reputational damage has been caused JAPP, the Jospong Group of Companies and their local and international business partners by the action of the Attorney-General. JAPP and Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong hereby clarify the material facts as follows:
“1. JAPP and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong categorically deny any indebtedness to the Government of Ghana or any of her agencies arising from the Contract dated 12th February 2024, executed pursuant to the DRIP program.
“2. The Contract dated 12th February, 2024 was preceded by the grant of approval by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on 10th January, 2024 for the Government to procure the supply of equipment and machines from JA Plant Pool (GH) Limited at a total cost of One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Nine United States Dollars, Fifty Cents (US$178,704,739.50).
“3. Both the PPA approval obtained by the Government (not JA Plant Pool) and the Contract entered subsequently into stated the sum of US$178,704,739.50 as the cost of the machines and equipment.
“4. As the Attorney General knows, the Contract has since been fully performed with JA Plant Pool duly supplying all machines and equipment to the Government of Ghana. All payments required to be made under the Contract have been made in strict accordance with the terms of the Contract.
“5. JA Plant Pool and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong consider the suit filed by the Attorney General to be in bad faith and have accordingly instructed their lawyers to challenge the suit and ensure its dismissal.
“6. JAPP and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong urge the public to disregard the imputations of wrongdoing conveyed by the wide publication of the suit by the Attorney-General in the media.
“The Jospong Group of Companies continues to be committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, lawful conduct and constructive engagement with all stakeholders, including the Government of Ghana.”
