Business News of Thursday, 9 January 2020
Source: Issah Olegor
The Managing Director of TACOA Construction Limited, Mr Henry Tackie, has denied the media reports that he has been arrested for presenting fake documents to secure a contract from the University of Cape Coast.
According to him, the said publication is false and an attempt by his saboteurs to tarnish his reputation.
Explaining the facts behind the story, he said he secured the four separate contracts from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) with genuine documents. He adds that he is done with his part of the bargain awaiting payment but the University Authority has failed to settle him.
The contracts including the construction of three-storey regional study centre at Zuarungu in the Upper East Region, the construction of a three-storey multi-purpose building at Cape Coast campus for the College of Distance Education (CoDE), the construction of a three-storey regional study centre for CoDE at Jumapo in the Eastern Region and the construction of office block for the School of Business in Cape Coast.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, on assumption in office issued a note to TACOA Construction Limited to terminate all projects allegedly on the basis of submission of a fake contract.
TACOA Construction noted that it petitioned the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, which he directed the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE) to investigate the alleged illegal termination of contracts by the UCC Authority.
But the University Authority refused to comply with the minister’s order and rather through its legal counsel, Solomon Faakye, took legal actions against the construction firm demanding the release of keys to the facility.
TACOA Construction said the Cape Coast High Court at it the last sitting referred the case to the Chief Justice in Accra for advice, as they were waiting, the University authorities went to break the padlocks of the buildings to use it without his approval.
The CEO of the firm noted that his lawyers went to court to cite the authorities for contempt, adding that the case was called for hearing on 12th December 2019 but Prof Ghartey Ampiah and Philip Ntim Owusu, from University, did not show up and the case was adjourned.
He said the current feud between him and the UCC Officials led to the false publication.
He added that, after the court proceedings, the Police invited him which he went with his lawyers to writes and statement and not that he was arrested and granted bail as being reported.
Meaning, the case is expected to be heard on 20th January 2020.