KIA Christmas tree saga: 'We spend Ghc78,000 on Christmas trees for Ghana Airport' - Paul Adom-Otchere

Board Chairman of de Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom Otchere say contrary to allegations say de company spend total of Ghc118,000 for Christmas trees, rather dem spend Ghc78,366 instead.

He mount defence on television Tuesday night after allegations emerge say as Board Chairman for GACL, he misuse tax payers money to procure Christmas trees den inspirations.

Mr Adom Otchere en defense be say instead of misusing public funds, he rather ensure "prudent" use of monies in de Christmas trees dem buy.

Ghanaians bore after leaked Christmas tree invoice hit social media

Ghanaians call out Paul Adom Otchere for misuse of public funds after invoice addressed to him personally leak on top social media.

Some Ghanaians question why public official go spend huge sums of money on Christmas trees while other important things dey to use de monies for.

Public procurement breaches

Some people accuse am of public procurement breaches after he respond initially on Facebook say dem invite two vendors.

According to Section 43(5) of Act 663,  "de procurement entity for request for quotations from as many suppliers or contractors as practical, but dem for compare quotations from at least three different sources.

Based on dis some believe say he breach procurement laws hence.

'Invoice be different from actual receipt payment'

Board Chair of GACL, Paul Adom Otchere for de first time reveal say dem no use de invoice which dey circulate for social media adressed directly to him.

He explain say de invoice just be expression of cost, no be receipt which dey show say dem pay de stated amount.

"Far from violating corporate governance...dem send me de invoice to see how we go fit bring am down or find sponsorship for it" he explain.

"Dis invoice no stand sake of we no accept aspects of de invoice, so we use de company for something else other than de trees."

"If you see Ghc84,000 on de invoice wey you think say we spend Ghc84,000 no we no do that. De total payment be Ghc78,000" he add.

According to Mr Adom Otchere despite say de total cost of Christmas trees den inspiration last dey cost Ghc128,366, de company pay Ghc78,366 sake of dem secure Ghc50,000 sponsorship from advertising company.

Depsite de latest explanation about Ghc50,000 sponsorship, legal practitioner Edudzi Tamakloe say de Board Chair breach procurement laws.

He explain say "rules of de Act, including threshold of Ghc100,000 for price quotation dey apply here."

"De total value of Ghc128,000 for fo through threshold rules... in dis case dis be above de price quotation threshold" Edudzi Tamakloe add.

Based on dis he explain say de Christmas procurement for go through National Competitive Tendering plus advertisement published for de transaction.