Senior Officer of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP), Glady’s Ghartey has told the Financial Court division of an Accra Fast Track High Court that the Ministry was unaware of a $65 million facility secured by Goodwill International Consultancy Firm for the introduction of new modules into then National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
Giving her testimony during cross examination, Madam Ghartey who is head of the United Nations System at MoFEP told the court that her office had no business with Goodwill International Consultancy Firm so far as securing the $65 million facility for the NYEP was concerned.
She also denied knowledge of a publication on the MoFEP website dated February 21, 2014 which indicated Goodwill International Consultancy Firm indeed secured the said facility for then NYEP.
Her rebuttals were in opposition to Lawyer Raymond Bagnabu, lead counsel for the first accused Philip Akpeena Assibit’s attempt to justify that Goodwill International Consultancy Firm was used as a conduit to secure enough funds from the World Bank for the introduction of new modules under then NYEP.
Raymond Bagnabu tendered in evidence of several documents including a purported cabinet memo from the office of then Vice President, John Mahama which endorsed the World Bank deal between the then NYEP authorities and Goodwill International Consultancy Firm.
Lawyer Bagnabu said any attempt to criminalize the consultancy services rendered by Goodwill International Consultancy Firm to the NYEP management should be ignored.
Nonetheless, Madam Ghartey responded in opposition to the submissions made by Lawyer Raymond Bagnabu.
There was no re-examination by the Attorney Generals Department for which reason the witness was accordingly discharged.
The case has been adjourned to May 21 and 23, 2014.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana