J.A. Plant Pool (GH) Limited (JAPP) and its Executive Chairman, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have vowed to strongly contest a lawsuit filed by the Attorney-General, insisting that neither the company nor its chairman owes any debt to the Government of Ghana under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) contract.
In a statement issued in Accra, JAPP rejected allegations contained in the legal action, which seeks to recover US$2 million the state claims is owed under a contract executed as part of the DRIP initiative.
The company also expressed concern over the extensive media coverage of the lawsuit before it had been formally served on either J.A. Plant Pool or Dr Agyepong, arguing that the publicity had caused significant reputational damage.
According to the statement, the Attorney-General’s action had unfairly affected the image of JAPP, the Jospong Group of Companies and their business partners both locally and internationally.
“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,” the statement said.
J.A. Plant Pool and Dr Agyepong firmly denied any indebtedness to the government arising from the contract and maintained that all obligations under the agreement had been fully honoured.
“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 company stated.
The company explained that the contract followed approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), which was granted on January 10, 2024. According to JAPP, the approval authorised the government to procure machinery and equipment from the company at a total contract value of US$178.7 million.
It noted that both the PPA approval and the contract subsequently signed on February 12, 2024, reflected the same contract sum.
JAPP further argued that the Attorney-General was fully aware that the agreement had been executed and completed, with all machinery and equipment required under the contract duly supplied to the government.
According to the company, the contract has been fully performed, and it remains confident that the facts surrounding the transaction will be established through the legal process.
The company said it would vigorously defend its position in court while continuing to protect its reputation and business interests.