By Issah Olegor
Fresh revelations emerging from confidential documents from the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) have triggered controversy over the award of a GH¢11 million office renovation contract allegedly linked to Stan Dogbe, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Presidency.
The documents suggest that the contract for the renovation of the old Bank of Ghana office building in Accra, now being used by GoldBod, was awarded through sole sourcing or restricted tendering, raising concerns about transparency, procurement compliance, and potential conflict of interest within the government’s procurement processes.
GoldBod, the state entity responsible for coordinating and regulating aspects of the gold trading sector, reportedly entered into several procurement arrangements as part of preparations to operationalize the institution. One of the documents seen indicates that GoldBod signed a contract in December 2025 with Get4Less Ghana Limited for the supply and installation of ICT equipment worth GH¢2,033,700.
The contract covered the procurement of laptops, desktop computers, printers, monitors and accessories for the institution’s offices located at 1 Thorpe Road, High Street in Accra, where GoldBod’s registered office is situated.
The procurement list attached to the agreement details the purchase of 15 Lenovo Yoga laptops valued at GH¢322,500, 15 Lenovo monitors costing GH¢42,750, Logitech wireless keyboards and mouse sets worth GH¢14,250, and 20 HP LaserJet printers valued at GH¢190,000.
Additional equipment included 54 Lenovo ThinkPad laptops costing GH¢648,000 and 77 Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop computers valued at GH¢816,200.
According to the contract, the subtotal of GH¢1,668,334.70 increased to GH¢2,033,700 after statutory levies such as the COVID-19 levy, NHIL, GETFund levy and VAT were applied.
Under the agreement, the supplier was expected to complete delivery and installation within ten days after the signing of the contract, while GoldBod would make payment within 30 days after satisfactory delivery and submission of invoices.
The contract also included provisions allowing the client to reject goods that failed to meet the specified technical requirements, and it provided a 12-month warranty for the equipment supplied.
However, sources familiar with the procurement process claim the ICT procurement formed only part of a larger office renovation and furnishing project estimated at GH¢11 million, which involved the refurbishment of the former Bank of Ghana office building that now houses GoldBod.
According to the documents and company records reviewed, the renovation contract was allegedly awarded through sole sourcing to Correca Ghana Limited, a company reportedly linked to the Woezor Group.
Corporate records indicate that Correca Ghana Limited is a subsidiary of the Woezor Group, a business entity associated with Stan Dogbe, who currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency.
The Woezor Group is also known to operate Woezor TV, a media platform connected to Dogbe. Investigations further suggest that until mid-2025, both Correca Ghana Limited and the Woezor Group operated from the same office premises in Adjiriganor in Accra, highlighting a close operational relationship between the two entities.
The alleged link between a senior government official and a company benefiting from a government contract has sparked accusations of conflict of interest. Governance advocates argue that such arrangements raise ethical and legal questions, particularly when the contract was reportedly awarded without a competitive bidding process.
Under the Public Procurement Act, sole sourcing is allowed only under specific circumstances and requires strict justification to ensure transparency and value for money.
Critics argue that the situation represents a classic case where a politically exposed person could potentially benefit from a state-funded contract.
The concern is heightened by the fact that GoldBod manages significant public resources tied to Ghana’s gold sector, one of the country’s most valuable sources of foreign exchange revenue. As a result, any procurement decision taken by the institution is expected to meet the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
Another key issue being raised is whether the GH¢11 million renovation cost represents fair value for money. Experts in infrastructure and procurement say renovation projects involving older public buildings typically require detailed bill of quantities, independent quantity surveying, and competitive tendering to prevent inflated costs. Without these safeguards, there is a risk that contract values could be exaggerated or the scope of work expanded beyond what is necessary.
The controversy is also politically sensitive because the current administration had campaigned strongly on promises to fight corruption and eliminate insider dealings in government contracts.
Critics say the allegations surrounding the GoldBod renovation contract appear to contradict those commitments and risk undermining public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
Transparency campaigners are therefore calling for the full disclosure of the procurement process, including the publication of the detailed bill of quantities for the renovation works, the justification for using sole sourcing, and independent verification of the contract value.
They argue that only a transparent investigation can determine whether the contract followed the law or whether public resources may have been improperly allocated.
The unfolding situation now places GoldBod under intense scrutiny at a time when the institution is still establishing its role in the mineral economy.
