Don't cancel contracts without my knowledge – Adwoa Safo's fiat to MDAs

The Minister of State responsible for Public Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo has issued warning to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to stop terminating government contracts without recourse to her office. She expressed “grave concern” about the increasing reports in the media regarding abrogation of government contracts by MDAs as well as municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs). In a statement issued on May 26, the Minister directed the MDAs and MMDAs “to refer all such questionable contracts to her office for expert and legal advice”. Adwoa Safoa noted that the advice will prevent any “unnecessary legal battles” between government and contractors which she said could spark “needless and avoidable” payment of judgement debts. Although she acknowledged the competence of heads of entities to make a judgement on  what a good contract is from a bad one, “it is always important to seek legal and expert advice before a decision to abrogate a contract is taken”. By Isaac Essel |editors.3news.com|Ghana