The 5 accused persons in the over 1.4 billion SML-GRA revenue assurance deal have pleaded not guilty to various corruption and corruption-related charges brought against them at the criminal division of the High Court.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has brought charges of using public office for personal profit, directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain unfair advantage in the award of procurement contract, willful oppression and causing financial loss to the state against them.
The Court took off to a constitutional and procedural argument by lawyers for Kwadwo Damoah who protested the manner in which hearing notice for the day was served on the accused.
The lawyers argued that the service breached Article 117 of the constitution and other standard protocols between the judicial and parliamentary services.
The Special Prosecutor however insisted that Kwadwo Damoah’s bail conditions allowed his office to summon him and the other accused persons at any given time; and that it was in exercise of this power that the office summoned all the accused persons for the purposes of service of the notice of hearing on them.
The Special Prosecutor announced that the processes for the extradition of former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta have been commenced. He told the court that the processes started on 19th November for the apprehension and repatriation of both Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chef de cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore to Ghana by the US authorities.
To this end Mr. Kissi Agyebeng prayed the court to issue summons to serve the charges on both accused persons believed to be living in the US.
Save for Ken Ofori Atta, Ernest Darko Akore and Kwadwo Damoah the court has admitted all other accused persons to a GHC50 million bail each, with 2 surerities each to be justified.
The case has been adjourned to 17th December at which sitting the plea of Kwadwo Damoah is expected to be taken.
