JA Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have strongly rejected claims by the Attorney-General that they owe the Government of Ghana $2 million under a contract executed as part of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), describing the lawsuit as unfounded and instituted in bad faith.
The company has announced plans to vigorously challenge the suit in court and seek its dismissal, insisting that all contractual obligations under the agreement have been fully performed and that no indebtedness exists.
In a statement issued in response to the legal action, JAPP expressed concern over what it described as the widespread publication of the lawsuit in the media before the company and its Executive Chairman had been formally served with court documents.
According to the company, the publicity surrounding the case has caused significant and unjustified reputational damage to JA Plant Pool, the Jospong Group of Companies and their local and international 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 February 12, 2024, executed pursuant to the DRIP programme,” the statement said.
The company explained that the contract in question followed approval granted by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) on January 10, 2024, which authorized the Government of Ghana to procure machinery and equipment from JA Plant Pool at a total cost of approximately $178.7 million.
According to JAPP, both the PPA approval and the subsequent contract clearly stated the value of the machinery and equipment at $178 million, a figure that was fully known and approved by the relevant state institutions before the agreement was executed.
The company further maintained that the contract has since been completely fulfilled, with all equipment and machinery supplied to the Government of Ghana in accordance with the terms of 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 emphasized.
JAPP also insisted that all payments made under the contract were effected strictly in accordance with the contractual provisions and that there was no basis for any claim of outstanding liabilities.
The company therefore described the Attorney-General’s attempt to recover $2 million through the courts as unjustified and lacking merit.
“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 noted.
The company urged members of the public to disregard any suggestions of wrongdoing arising from reports about the lawsuit, stressing that the allegations contained in the Attorney-General’s action do not reflect the true facts surrounding the transaction.
JAPP maintained that the extensive media coverage of the suit had created an impression of misconduct despite the matter not yet being determined by the courts.
The company said it remained committed to transparency, accountability and compliance with the law in all its dealings.
“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,” the statement added.
The lawsuit forms part of an ongoing dispute over aspects of the DRIP programme, a flagship initiative aimed at improving road maintenance and construction capacity across the country’s metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies through the acquisition and distribution of heavy-duty equipment.
While the Attorney-General is seeking to recover $2 million allegedly owed under the contract, JA Plant Pool insists that the agreement was lawfully procured, fully executed and properly paid for, and says it is prepared to contest the government’s claims through the judicial process.
The case is expected to draw significant public attention given the scale of the DRIP programme and the prominent role played by JA Plant Pool and the Jospong Group in the implementation of the initiative.
