Court restrains national executive of ABCCG from holding meeting
Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2001
An Accra Regional Tribunal hearing the Bank of Ghana's (BOG's) financial scandal would on Monday, April 23 take a definite stand on the case.
On that day, the tribunal will decide whether to continue with the case or transfer it to another court.
Mr Justice Isaac Duose, Chairman of the three-member tribunal, who announced this at its sitting on Monday, said this has become necessary because like all other cases, the tribunal would ensure that the case is heard to its logical conclusion.
He, therefore, urged counsel for both the prosecution and the defendant to get their witnesses ready to facilitate a speedy trial.
The tribunal is trying two former top officials of BOG for their alleged involvement in a 7-billion-cedi scandal that hit the bank on November 26, 1999.
Mr Sebastian Gavor, Director, Budget and Accounts Department and Justice Ofosu Larbi, Deputy Director, Banking Department, are alleged to have connived with one Hajia Baby Ocansey in defrauding the bank of the said amount.
In the course of the trial, BOG fired the two former bankers and when their counsel drew the tribunal's attention to the action, it ordered the bank to interdict the two officials or else it would be cited for contempt.
The bank filed an application for a stay of execution of the tribunal's order at the Court of Appeal, which was granted. Not satisfied with the ruling, Gavor took the matter up at the Supreme Court and lost.
Consequently, the Supreme Court ordered that the case should be returned to the Regional Tribunal, where it originated.
When the case was called on Monday, none of the prosecution witnesses was in court, and it had to be adjourned.
This is about the third time that the case has to be adjourned after its sojourn at the higher courts and its return to its original home about a couple of months ago.
The two former bankers are alleged to have authorised the payment of a fake bank draft, which Hajia Ocansey presented on that fateful day.
Alhaji Sidiq Gimala, businessman and Head of the Wangara Community in Accra, is jointly charged with the two bankers.
All three have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to steal and stealing and are on bail.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2001
The High Court trying the Ablekuma murder case was on Tuesday told that a pistol and a calculator belonging to Constable Richard Owusu-Sekyere, one of the two slain policemen, was stolen by Joseph Telewu, alias Terminator, one of the nine accused persons.
Led in evidence by Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Amoako, an investigator of the case, said Telewu was arrested while offering the items for sale.
Telewu and eight others are standing trial for the murder of Owusu-Sekyere and Constable Jerry Wornoo in November 1998.
The eight include Seth Ababio Kissergbi, alias Rasta, Nii Amo Dodoo, William Nii Muetteh Addo and Newland Awayevu.
The rest are Okyeame Darko Dodoo, Wisdom Awayevu, alias Kwasi Luga, Daniel Mills, alias Fussy and Yemo Odai, alias Joe Shanton.
They have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder.
Except Okyeame Dodoo who is on bail, the rest have been remanded in prison custody.
The two policemen were said to have gone to the village to erect pillars on a piece of land they had purchased when the accused persons attacked and tortured them to death.
ASP Amoako told the court that when Owusu-Sekyere's body was finally dug out at the place of burial near the foundation of a building at Ablekuma, his left arm and two legs were cut off.
Witness said even though the body was in a state of decomposition, he could still identify it. "I knew Owusu-Sekyere personally, because he came to our office quite often."
ASP Amoako told the court that on January 26, 1999, an arm and one leg of Constable Owusu-Sekyere were found in the bushes near the foundation. The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 26.
GRi../
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 04 April
2001
A Kumasi High Court presided over
by Justice Joseph K. A. Abrahams on Tuesday restrained the National Executive
of the Association of Building and Civil Contractors of Ghana (ABCCG) from
holding its annual general meeting scheduled for April 4 at Taadi Hotel,
Takoradi.
The court also ordered that the
meeting cannot be held in any other place or without the requisite notices to
all concerned including the Ashanti Regional Branch and its members and without
adherence to the provisions of the constitution of the association.
These orders were issued following
the granting of an application filed on behalf of Mr Kwame Afreh, Ashanti
Regional Chairman and three others by Mr Kwame Asiedu-Basoah, a Kumasi-based
legal practitioner in Kumasi.
The court observed that in view of
the breaches of the constitution by the National Executives, if the meeting is
allowed to go ahead, it would deprive members from Ashanti region the right to
contest for any of the offices which is the main agenda of the meeting.
In a statement of claim, Mr Afreh
said the National Executive want to deprive members from Ashanti region the
right to participate in the deliberations and put themselves up as office
holders or vote contrary to law.
The court said the order has been
granted for 14 days.
GRi../
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