The fallout from the bus branding saga is yet to die down, yet it looks like we have another one brewing, involving actress Selassie Ibrahim again.

Selassie’s Company Smartty’s Management and Productions carried out the bus branding, which somehow cost the taxpayer Ghc 3.6m. It has launched an investigation, led to a Minister’s resignation, and raised questions about what role her NDC guru husband is playing in all this– but somehow she retains the trust of government enough to be considered for another contract.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has revealed that Smartty’s is fronting for a Chinese company, set to carry out an electrification project that would cost the taxpayer $98m. Osei Kyei, remember, was the person who brought the public’s attention to the spectacular looting of resources that was the bus branding deal.

“Selassie was fronting for a Chinese company involved in some electrification project for which this nation will have to cough up $98 million,” the NPP MP for Suame told Citi News.

“This is a woman who is involved in some impropriety. The matter is pending. It is on the front burner and then we allow her to front for a Chinese company and offer her a contract to the tune of $98 million.

“Are we serious as a nation?” he wondered.

Indeed, are we? The Chief of Staff has ordered Smartty’s to return Ghc 1.9m of the money paid them for the contract, which is an indicator of over inflation of the figures right there and speaks to, at the very least, Smartty’s collusion with others to defraud the state. Why she should be anywhere near any other government contract after that simply beats the imagination.