Vodafone Not Free Yet

Information available to �The Crusading Guide� indicates that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the United Kingdom (UK) is to launch investigation into the activities of Vodafone International BV in countries it has business interest. The U.K. SFO is said therefore to be seriously monitoring the situation in Ghana over the sale of seventy percent (70%) of Ghana Telecom (GT) shares to Vodafone BV last year. However, Miss Tina Roe, the Press Officer of the UK SFO told this paper in an interview that, her outfit was aware of the rumpus over the Vodafone and GT deal but, it was yet to announce the decision to begin investigation into the deal. No decision has been made although the issue has been raised; Mr Roe told this the New Crusading Guide. The spelt out an eighteen � point indicators as forming the basis for which Agency would want to investigate a business�s operation, adding that private citizens were also welcome to file complaints to her office. Conceding that the eighteen points were not exhaustive, Roe mentioned paying school fees on behalf of others; private meetings with contractors or companies hoping to tender for contracts; abnormal cash payment, pressure exerted for payments to be made urgently or ahead of schedule; payments being made through third party country, that is goods and services supplied to country A but payment is being made, usually to shell company in country B� as some of the corruption indicators that attract their attention. She continued that abnormally high commission percentage being paid to a particular agency. This may be split into two accounts for same agent often in different jurisdiction, lavish gifts being received, individual never taking time off even if ill or holidays, or insisting on dealing with specific contractors him/herself; making unexpected or illogical decisions, accepting projects or contracts cases of unusually smooth process of cases where the individual does not have the expected level of knowledge or expertise; abusing decision process or delegated powers in specific cases and agreeing contracts not being favourable to the organisation either with terms or time period as some of the indicators� The others she said �unexplained preference for certain contractors during tendering period, avoidance of independent cheeks on tendering or contracting processes raising barriers around specific roles or departments which are key in tendering/contracting processes and bypassing normal tendering/contracting processes.� And finally, �invoices being agreed in excess of contract without reasonable cause, missing documents or records regarding meetings or decision; company procedures or guidelines not being followed and the payment of, or making funds available for high value expenses� as some of the indicators they rely onto launch investigation of companies. These indicators, she said could be found on the SFO�s website as well. The Ghanaian government, however, tasked as inter ministerial review committee to look into the GT Vodafone deal. It among other things expressed misgivings about the report of the Inter-ministerial Review Committee saying the laws of the country were not complied with in the execution of the deal. It has therefore proposed to re-engage Vodafone to ensure compliance with the country�s laws.