Accra (Greater Accra) 04
September 2001 - Sherry Aryittey, former Chief Executive of GIHOC Distilleries,
on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Tribunal for allegedly taking bribe
to influence the divestiture of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited
(GREL).
Ms Aryittey, a former
member of the Board of Directors of the Divestiture Implementation Committee
(DIC), pleaded not guilty to corruption by a public officer and was granted 500
million cedis self-cognisance bail.
With her in the dock was
Ralph Casely-Hayford, an Engineer, who was also charged for allegedly accepting
bribe to influence a public officer. He also pleaded not guilty and was also
granted a 100 million-cedi self-cognisance bail.
The tribunal, chaired by
Mr Ziblim Imoru, adjourned the case to September 27. A third person in the case
is yet to be charged.
Deputy Superintendent of
Police (DSP) Patrick Sarpong told the tribunal that as part of the Economic
Reforms Programme, the Government of Ghana, acting through its agent the DIC,
in 1995 listed the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) in Takoradi for
divestiture.
Societe Industrielle
Plantation Hevea (SIPH), a French Company which was then managing GREL,
expressed interest to acquire the company and engaged a consultant, a witness
in the case, to assist them in the divestiture processes.
DSP Sarpong said in the
course of the divestiture process, SIPH encountered some difficulties and
decided to solicit the support of the 31st December Women's Movement through
Aryittey.
The consultant contacted a
third person, a friend of Ms Aryittey to convince her to assist SIPH to win the
bid to acquire GREL.
Prosecution said the
witness agreed to do so if only the witness could reward her. The witness
obliged and promised to give her some money after SIPH has won the bid for
GREL.
He said Aryittey agreed to
lend her support if SIPH could pay one million dollars to the 31st December
Movement through her. Aryittey held a series of meetings with the DIC Executive
Secretary and Mr Dan Abodakpi, then Deputy Minister of Trade.
After each meeting,
Aryittey communicated the outcome to the consultant, who in turn communicated
the results to the management of SIPH.
Prosecution said in 1996, Ms
Aryittey travelled to Paris with two other witnesses in the case on the ticket
of SIPH and held meetings with the board members of SIPH on the divestiture of
GREL.
Before Aryittey's
departure to Paris, a meeting was held with some board members of SIPH at the
offices of the 31st December Movement, where Aryittey was allegedly given
20,000 dollars.
In 1998 Aryittey received 800,000 dollars in four instalments out
of the one million dollars she requested: 250,000 dollars, 180,000 dollars,
120,000 dollars, and 150,000 pounds.
At the same time that
Aryittey was being contacted, the consultant sought the assistance of Mr
Abodakpi, who was also a member of the DIC Board.
Casely-Hayford and one
other witness were contacted to assist. While the said witness introduced the
witness who wanted to see Mr Abodakpi to him. Casely-Hayford opted to be the
liaison between Abodakpi and the witness.
Casely-Hayford, therefore,
dealt with Mr Abodakpi and later collected 60 million cedis from the witness to
be given to him.
He also collected 10
million cedis as his share for the part he played. Prosecution said on November
4, 1996, the witness satisfied the precondition made by the third accused with
15 million cedis.
GRi../
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