By a letter of 29 July 2005 from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOE&S), the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund has been requested to release "a total amount of $27, 999, 890.00 or the cedi equivalent of C256,199,908,500.00 (At an exchange rate of C9,150.00)…to procure the books over a three year period." All of that would be going to one foreign company, Messrs Macmillan Education.

Understandably, Ghanaian publishers and printers are not amused and are grousing quiet uncomfortably that "food is being taken from Ghanaian mouths to people who can afford it".

An executive of a leading Ghanaian publishing company told ADM that there is a "Textbooks Policy", which the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service must operate in such procurement issues. The aim of the policy, which is laudable, is to support and improve the local publishing industry in Ghana. The policy states that the local publishing association should be involved in the procurement of textbooks and supplementary material. Another beneficiary of this policy is the printing industry, which in the last decade has come of age.

"In this particular instance", said the executive, "this policy was not followed." He therefore wondered why "the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education sought to set aside a policy which they are signatory to."

He lamented why and how Macmillan Education could have been singled out to perform this huge and vital national assignment alone when there are "other equally competent companies in Ghana." He disclosed to ADM that "there are about 20 local publishers which have books suitable to the Ghanaian environment and culture than Macmillan and could have provided the same financing terms as Macmillan."

Another publisher said what is so surprising is that an impression has been given that Macmillan would be providing flexible financing terms. "What flexible terms", he asked, "when you are paying up to 40% of the contract sum before a single book has even been delivered?"

All other Ghanaian publishers, he asserted confidently, are in a position to offer credit, if they had been brought on board as bona fide stakeholders. He told ADM that no meeting had been held with Ghanaian publishers and printers, in the spirit of the "Textbooks Policy" hence their beef.

He said it is not their intention to delay the procurement of books "for our children, but we believe the right thing must be done. After all, why are we struggling if not to educate our children for a better future, but if you should deny their parents jobs and give to foreigners how do you think we can pay for the children's education?"

Clearly then, this crucial sector of stakeholders are not satisfied with the way this particular procurement exercise has been handled and in strong terms said "they have lied to the National Procurement Board."

This then is the crux of the matter: Are the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ghana Education Service being economical with the details in this multi-million dollar contract?