Fight against corruption must not be generous - chairman

Cape Coast (Central Region) 21 June '99

Mr K.B. Aning, chairman of the Cape Coast Regional Tribunal, has said that the nation's fight against corruption and embezzlement of state funds cannot be sacrificed on the altar of magnanimity.

Sentencing Rutherford Emmanuel Adu, a 49-year-old senior account clerk of the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) in Cape Coast, to two years' imprisonment for forgery and embezzling 13,763,500 cedis, the tribunal chairman said although Adu readily admitted his guilt and pleaded with the court for mercy because it was his first offence, such persons must be dealt with in a manner that will deter others from embezzling state funds.

Adu was ordered to refund the embezzled sum to the state as well as 572,902 cedis belonging to the Mankessim branch of the Authority, which he pocketed, after serving his sentence.

Adu pleaded guilty to forgery of documents and stealing the amount belonging to the state between 1997 and 1998.

The prosecution said between 1997 and 1998, Adu prepared fictitious payment vouchers and forged the signature of the Central Regional Manager of the IDA on 105 cheque leaflets and withdrew sums totalling 13,760,500 cedis from IDA's account at the Ghana Commercial Bank in Cape Coast.

Within the same period, he also pocketed 572,902 cedis meant for Mankessim office of the IDA.

The offences were detected during internal audit.

During the trial, the tribunal granted Adu time to refund the money at his own request but he was unable to repay the amount after a number of adjournments.

GRi../