Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has reaffirmed his position that his office possesses credible evidence of overpayment and possible tax evasion in a government contract involving J.A. Plant Pool (Ghana) Limited, suppliers of heavy-duty equipment under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
Speaking in an exclusive interview with 3News on October 24, Dr Ayine maintained that investigations conducted by his office substantiate the allegations, despite the company’s denial.
“We have investigated and we have the evidence. So, if they are making that claim, we’ll come out with the truth. What I said, I stand by. And if they are not conforming to the demand I’ve made, I have the courts to help me do so,” 3news.com quoted him to have said.
The company had earlier issued a statement on October 23, refuting the Attorney-General’s claim of a US$2 million overpayment.
According to J.A. Plant Pool (JAPP), the government did not overpay for the equipment supplied under the DRIP contract and the Attorney-General’s figure was based on a misinterpretation of official documents.
JAPP clarified that the approved contract amount was US$178,704,739.50 and not US$176 million as cited by Dr Ayine.
The company explained that the discrepancy stemmed from a clerical error in official records and not from any wrongdoing on its part.
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“It is therefore factually incorrect to assert that the contract sum was USD 176 million. The official contract amount, duly executed by all parties, remains USD 178,704,739.50,” portions of JAPP’s statement read.
The controversy stems from the Attorney-General’s remarks at the Government Accountability Series press briefing on October 22, 2025, where he cited J.A. Plant Pool’s contract as one of the cases reviewed by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee.
The committee was established to investigate financial irregularities and recover misappropriated state funds.
Dr Ayine noted that his office had conducted a review of the JAPP contract and found that an excess payment of US$2 million had been made, prompting a demand for a refund.
“In respect of the DRIP Programme, I have demanded a refund of Two Million United States Dollars (USD 2,000,000.00) from J.A. Plant Pool after investigations revealed financial irregularities. Although the contract sum was USD 176 million, records showed a total of USD 178 million was paid,” the A-G stated during the briefing.
The District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), a government initiative, aims to enhance rural accessibility through the upgrading and maintenance of district roads to boost local economic growth and social connectivity.
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