J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited and its Executive Chairman, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have pledged to mount a vigorous legal defence against a lawsuit filed by the Attorney-General seeking to recover US$2 million, categorically denying any indebtedness to the Government of Ghana.
The lawsuit, which relates to a contract executed under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), alleges that the company owes the state money under the agreement. In a strongly worded statement issued in Accra, J.A. Plant Pool and Dr Agyepong rejected the claims outright.
“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 12th February 2024, executed pursuant to the DRIP programme,” the statement read.
The company also expressed concern over what it described as the extensive media publication of the lawsuit before it was formally served on either party. According to the statement, “severe and unjustified reputational damage has been caused to JAPP, the Jospong Group of Companies and their local and international business partners by the action of the Attorney-General.”
J.A. Plant Pool outlined the procurement history behind the disputed contract, explaining that it was preceded by approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), granted on 10 January 2024. The PPA approval authorised the Government of Ghana to procure machinery and equipment from the company at a total cost of US$178,704,739.50, and both the PPA approval and the subsequent contract signed on 12 February 2024 reflected the same contract value.
The company further argued that the contract had been fully performed and that all equipment and machinery required under the agreement had been supplied to the government. “As the Attorney General knows, the Contract has since been fully performed,” the statement continued, suggesting the state was fully aware of the completed obligations.
The case is likely to draw significant public attention given Dr Agyepong’s prominent position in Ghana’s business landscape. As the founder of the Jospong Group, he oversees one of the country’s largest conglomerates with interests spanning waste management, environmental services, and heavy equipment supply.
J.A. Plant Pool and Dr Agyepong have signalled their intention to defend the matter through the courts, setting the stage for what could be a protracted legal battle between one of Ghana’s most prominent business figures and the state.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE