J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have denied owing the Government of Ghana any money under a contract executed as part of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), and said they would challenge a lawsuit filed by the Attorney-General seeking to recover $2 million.
In a statement issued in Accra, the company rejected allegations contained in the suit, which claims JAPP owes the state funds under a contract signed in February 2024.
The company said it had not been formally served with the lawsuit before details of the case were widely reported in the media, a development it said had caused reputational damage to the company, the Jospong Group of Companies and their business partners.
JAPP and Agyepong said they had fulfilled all obligations under the contract and disputed any suggestion of indebtedness to the government.
“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 by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on Jan. 10, 2024, authorising the procurement of machinery and equipment valued at $178.7 million.
The company said the contract reflected the same value approved by the PPA and that all equipment required under the agreement had been delivered.
“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.
JAPP also said all payments made under the contract complied with agreed terms and conditions.
The company described the legal action as being brought in bad faith and said it had instructed its lawyers to seek dismissal of the case.
“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,” the statement said.
The Attorney-General’s office has not publicly responded to the company’s latest statement.
The case is expected to be determined by the courts.
