Ahwoi acquitted and discharged, Peprah and four others to open defence
Six NPP supporters in court for holding illegal demonstration
Accra (Greater Accra) 06 December 2001 - The Fast Track Court, on Thursday ruled that Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister and four others should on Tuesday,
December 11, open their defence because a "prima facie" case had been made against them in the Quality Grain trial.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, however, acquitted and discharged Kwesi Ahwoi, the sixth accused and former Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), for lack of evidence.
Mr Justice Afreh said it was in evidence that in 1994 when the offence was committed, Ahwoi, charged with conspiracy, was not in office and that he ceased to be at post in 1992.
The court's ruling was in respect of submissions of "no case" against the accused persons by the defence and countered by the prosecution.
Peprah, Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey and Nana Ato Dadzie, all former senior public officials, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss of 21 million dollars to the state by causing the government to guarantee the amount as loan to Quality Grain Company without approval.
Each of them is on a self-recognisance bail. All the defence counsel, except that of Dr Dapaah, told the court that they would appeal against the ruling and pleaded with it to give them enough time to file their application of stay of proceedings pending notice of appeal.
Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice, objected to the application on the grounds that there was nothing before the court except the oral application for it to adjourn proceedings.
She, therefore, urged the court to allow proceedings to continue but the defence continued to plead until the court adjourned to December 11. Counsel for Dr Dapaah, however, indicated that his client was prepared to open his defence.
GRi../
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Wa (Upper West) 06 December 2001 - Six supporters of the NPP at Wa, were on Wednesday arrested by the police and immediately put before the Wa Community Tribunal for organising and leading a demonstration against the Upper West Regional Minister without police approval.
The six, including a woman, were charged with contravening the Public Order Act 491. They all pleaded not guilty and were each granted five million cedis bail with one surety to be justified to appear again on December 11.
The accused persons are Yahaya Atiku, 40, businessman, John Donkor, 36, trader, Elizabeth Zingpen, 35, seamstress, Abudu Alaba, 65, transport owner, Mumuni Seidu, 70, farmer, and Ali Abdul Kamara, 40, self-employed.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector Stephen Dabarah told the tribunal chaired by Mr Peter Galyuon that on December 4, some supporters of NPP including the six accused presented an application to the Regional Security Council for a permit to hold a demonstration on December 5, against the Regional Minister.
Inspector Dabarah said, in accordance with the Public Order Act, the applicants should have made their request three clear days ahead of the day of the intended demonstration.
The prosecution said the Regional Security Council objected to the demonstration on the grounds that it was not in the interest of peace and informed the applicants accordingly and followed it up with a letter.
Inspector Dabarah said in spite of the council's objection the accused persons led a faction of placard bearing NPP supporters numbering about 200 on an unlawful demonstration through the streets of Wa to the Regional Minister's office.
They were, however, stopped when they reached the Regional Police Headquarters. Inspector Dabarah said some of the placards carried by the demonstrators read, "Mogtari is killing NPP in Upper West," "Mogtari must go, the Minister is corrupt," "With Sahanun, no peace in Upper West," and "with Sahanun NPP is dead in Upper West"
GRi../
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