Prosecution failed to prove charges against Nana Ato Dadzie - Counsel
Five Nigerians remanded for currency trafficking
The Attorney-General's Department has explained that it decided to discontinue with one of the two cases involving Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister of Finance, currently pending before an Accra Circuit Tribunal because he has refunded the money involved.
Selormey paid the outstanding balance of 7,000 (¢49,598,500) into the Foreign Account at the Bank of Ghana on August 14, 2001 and was issued a receipt No. 92017757 c/o Kwaku Baah & Co. Bo 3961, Accra.
Miss Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, told "The Evening News" in Accra on Thursday that the amount represents the difference relating to the purchase of the vehicle.
She said the actual cost of the vehicle was 38,000 dollars, but Selormey caused the transfer of the 45,000 dollars to Messrs LEXDEV International, USA.
Miss Akuffo said the withdrawal of the charge levelled against Selormey showed that the government was not interested in Hauling ex-Ministers of the previous administration to court.
She said another reason was that the government did not want to be petty and vindictive, hence it decided not to pursue that case, adding that even Selormey going ahead to pay the difference showed that he had admitted his guilty without being coerced into doing so.
Miss Akuffo stated that it would be unfortunate for people to think that the government did not investigate the case well before rushing to court.
"Every case being pursued by the government in court has been thoroughly investigated for concrete evidence to be established and so there is nothing like harassment and witch hunting" she said.
Asked why the Ministry of Justice and the A-G's Department did not give this explanation long ago, Miss Akuffo said it was professionally unethical to do so and that it was also meant to keep faith with the need to keep quiet on it.
"But now that the issue is in the public domain we have no alternative than to come out and explain the circumstances surrounding the latest turn of events" she stated.
She said the government wants to govern by the rule of law and that "it does not want to be petty and vindictive".
It is recalled that an Accra Circuit Tribunal chaired by Mr Ziblim Imoru, on Tuesday granted an application by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Osafo Sampong, to withdraw the charge of causing loss by carelessness to public property against Mr Selormey.
He was alleged to have caused the transfer of 45,000 dollars to LEXDEV International for the purchase of a vehicle. – Evening News.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 November 2001- Counsel for Nana Ato Dadzie, fifth accused person in the Quality Grain trial, on Thursday urged the Fast Track Court (FTC) to acquit and discharge his client because the prosecution had failed to prove its case against him.
Nana Agyei Ampofo, the counsel, said evidence given by 21 witnesses and documents tendered did not disclose any conspiracy or acts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
Nana Ampofo was making a submission of "no case" in the trial of Nana
Dadzie, former Chief of Staff at the office of the President and five others for allegedly conspiring and causing financial loss to the state.
The prosecution rested its case last week and defence counsel gave notice of making a submission of "no case".
Counsel submitted that the charges against his client and the other accused persons "have no basis" in law since the prosecution failed to state how they wilfully caused financial loss to the state.
He said there was nothing on record to show that at the time his client was at post he conspired or wilfully caused financial loss to the country.
Nana Ampofo contended that it was in evidence that monies were given to Nana Dadzie for disbursement to farmers and settlers whose land was taken for the rice project at Aveyime in the Volta Region.
Counsel said it was also evident that the accounts of the disbursement were audited and found to be correct.
He said his client did his duty as an obedient public servant to a government policy of ensuring that the project was established to ensure that the country became self-sufficient in rice production.
Nana Ampofo asked the court not to call on his client to open his defence but acquit and discharge him.
The other accused persons are, Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey and Kwesi Ahwoi, all former senior public officials.
They have all pleaded not guilty and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail
Counsel for Ahwoi said he associated himself with the sentiments expressed by Nana Ampofo and called for acquittal and discharge of his client.
He said it is in evidence that his client, who was the Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) ensured that the Quality Grain Company as a foreign investor was legally registered.
Counsel said there was no justification for Ahwoi to be charged because a prosecution witness testified that the company was legally registered with the centre.
He said the accused did his official duty and never did anything unlawful with the company. Hearing continues on Monday, November 5.
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Five Nigerians remanded for currency
trafficking
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 November 2001 - Five Nigerians who were arrested for currency trafficking at Tudu appeared before an Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday.
Sofiano Amadu, Mohammed Masawudu, Adamu Yakubu all unemployed and Chiedozie Onoh and Issah Ayigoru, both traders, pleaded not guilty.
The tribunal chaired by Mr Mohammed Nabon remanded them in prison custody to reappear on November 6.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector Kwame Anneh said the accused persons were arrested on October 27 when the police carried out a swoop on currency traffickers following public outcry over their activities.
According to the police various currencies including CFA, Canadian dollars, naira and cedis were found on them.
The police said when the accused persons were interrogated Amadu, Masawudu, and Yakubu admitted the offence but Onoh and Ayigoru denied it.
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