The Herald, has learnt that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has written to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, requesting the release of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, for criminal investigations.

He is being sought in connection with a GH₵ 600,000, cash-for-contract scandal. He allegedly took money from a businessman in exchange for awarding an AstroTurf construction contract in the Central Region, but failed to fulfil the agreement.

Parliamentary sources told The Herald that, the CID’s letter has indeed reached the Speaker, but the MP, has not yet been released to face the probe.

The investigation was prompted by a petition dated February 24, 2025, from the complainant, Sylvester Agyen, reportedly a lecturer based in Kumasi.

According to The Herald’s police sources, CID officers, have summoned Rev. Fordjour to report to their headquarters this week to respond to the allegations.

At the time of the alleged offence, he served as Deputy Minister of Education under President Akufo-Addo’s administration. The MP is accused of collecting the sum under the pretext of awarding the complainant a government contract.

It appears, the CID, is taking advantage of Parliament’s current recess to invite the MP for questioning.

Publicly, Rev. Fordjour, has threatened legal action against The Herald for publishing details of the scandal.

Privately, however, he has reportedly engaged the law chambers of Jeffrey Koranteng (JKORANTENG@LAW) to negotiate a refund of the GH ₵600,000, he allegedly received during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Education.

The Herald, uncovered further details of the scandal involving the 38-year-old MP.

The project concerned was part of a public tender for the construction of four standard-sized Astro Turf football pitches in various districts of the Central Region. Critics say the MP’s actions undermined Ghana’s procurement laws by soliciting and accepting money in exchange for a promise to award a contract that he failed to honour.

The tender was advertised in the Ghanaian Times on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, under the headline: National Competitive Tender (NCT) – Procurement of Works: Central Regional Co-ordinating Council Invitation to Tender.

The projects were intended for Awutu Senya West District, Mfantsiman Municipal Assembly, Assin South District, and Hemang Lower Denkyira District. However, before the official award of the contracts, Rev. Fordjour, then Deputy Minister of Education, struck a private deal with Mr Gyen, offering him some of the projects in return for GH ₵600,000.

Despite receiving the payment, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, failed to deliver, prompting Mr Gyen to demand a refund repeatedly. As of yesterday, the MP had reportedly refunded GH₵450,000, leaving a balance of GH ₵ 150,000.

Through his lawyers, Rev. Fordjour, denied The Herald’s original story, which was published on Monday, 12–13 May 2025, threatening legal action and insisting the publication was false, defamatory, and without factual basis.

After months of fruitless efforts, including media publications, legal notices, and appeals to the then-Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Mr Gyen eventually filed a formal complaint with the CID on February 24, 2025—likely buoyed by the recent change in government.

The Herald’s investigations, have confirmed multiple interactions between the MP and the aggrieved businessman. At one point, an individual identified as Alberta Frimpong refunded part of the GH₵200,000 sum via a deposit made into Mr Gyen’s bank account on Friday,  August 9, 2024. The Herald has reviewed a pay-in slip confirming the transaction.

Further correspondence between the two shows Mr Gyen’s growing frustration. He had threatened to take legal action, approach the media, and alert the Chief of Staff if the full refund was not received. Despite these warnings, the MP allegedly remained evasive.

Text messages reviewed by The Herald, indicate that Mr Gyen persistently pleaded for the return of his money, citing the financial hardship the delay had caused, including urgent medical needs for his elderly mother.

In one message, he wrote: “Rev., you can’t continue to spoil the cash after all this while… You are not doing me a favour by refunding money paid to you for a job that was never done.”

In another message, he warned: “I am very much disappointed, and if the untoward happens to my old lady due to my inability to raise funds for her immediate surgery, your name shall surely appear in the tribute.”

In an attempt to shift responsibility, the MP allegedly claimed that a lecturer known to Mr Gyen was responsible for the remaining GH₵400,000. However, Mr Gyen insists that the MP personally received the full amount at his residence off the Spintex Road – Accra, and should be held accountable.

Official documents reviewed by The Herald confirm that the tender process, overseen by the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council, was governed by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended. Bidders had to meet strict eligibility criteria and submit sealed tenders by 30 April 2024, with a 2% bid security and 120-day validity.

The businessman’s petition and related correspondence raise serious concerns about abuse of public office and breaches of Ghana’s procurement laws. A police report seen by The Herald suggests the case is being investigated as a potential incident of defrauding by false pretence, involving the MP and two associates: Eric Yeboah and Edmond Oppong Peprah.

As public interest in the case grows, pressure is mounting on Rev. Fordjour to refund the remaining GH₵150,000. Mr Gyen, vowed to pursue the matter through the courts and the media if the balance is unpaid.