- b) Mr. Asentim is a professional sales engineer employed by the quantum group
Company. Mr. Asentim has lunch with Mr. Iso, representing Diamond Cement
Company. The men discussed Diamond’s product line at some length during
lunch. Over dessert, the men begin discussing football and learn that they are both huge fans of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC. Mr. Iso calls Mr. Asentim a couple of
days later and invites him to watch the Kotoko’s game on Sunday in Diamond’s
corporate suite. Mr. Asentim accepts the invitation and attends the game. The
men spend the afternoon watching their beloved Kotoko. The subject of business
never even comes up in the conversation. As they exit the suite after the game,
Mr. Saankpana, a salesman employed by GHACEM Company, spots the two men.
Mr. Saankpana knows both men, but chooses not to approach them. A couple of
weeks later, Mr. Asentim sends out a request for quotation to both Diamond
Cement Company and GHACEM Company to supply several hundred thousand
Ghana Cedis worth of cement. Both companies submit quotations and are
evaluated in accordance with quantum’s normal bid evaluation process. Mr.
Asentim is responsible for performing the technical bid evaluation, but is not
involved in the final purchase decision. Diamond Cement Company is awarded the
contract based on technical merit and lowest life cycle costs. The next day, Nana
Asentim is called into the office of Quantum Company’s president. The company
president is concerned about a phone call that he received from Mr. Saankpana,
representing GHACEM Company, who is alleging that an inappropriate
relationship may exist between Mr. Asentim and Mr. Iso of Diamond Cement
Company.
i)
Did Mr. Asentim have a conflict of interest? ii) Did Mr. Asentim have an
apparent conflict of interest?