A Prosecution witness in the corruption case involving former GYEEDA boss, Abuga Pele and Chief Executive of Goodwill International Group (GIG), Philip Akpeena Assibit, has told the court that all payments made to Goodwill Ghana was approved by the then Minister of Youth and Sports Clement Kofi Humado.
[contextly_sidebar id=”d1eWbTOykf87eneBCRv7m5XRRlSVqwdu”]The witness Eric Suma, who is an accounts officer at the then Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneural Development Agency (GYEEDA) and the sixth witness to appear for state prosecution, told the court Mr. Humado gave instructions, barring them from issuing any payment above ¢20,000 without his approval and therefore could not issue out any payments to the accused without his permission.
Mr. Suma who confirmed issuing the payments to Philip Assibit, said during cross examination that Abuga Pele only signed the cheques as National coordinator based on instructions from Mr. Humado.
His comments seem to contradict the testimony of Mr. Humado who was also a prosecution witness in the case that, as minister, he did not approve any payments but gave consent to payment plans developed from GYEEDA “approval for payment plan does not mean that specific payments can be done.”
Charges
The Chiana-Paga MP is facing six counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state under Section 179A (3) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), to the tune of GH¢3,330,568.53; two counts of abetment under Sections 20(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and one count of intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140).
Mr. Assibit, who is the first accused person, is also facing six counts of defrauding the state of an amount equivalent to $1,948,626.68 by false pretences, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal and Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and five counts of dishonestly causing loss to public property contrary to Section 2(1) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 1).
Adjournment
Presiding judge Justice Afia Asare Botwe adjourned to the case to the 11th of March 2015 though hearing was supposed to continue tomorrow because state prosecutors told the court their next witness was out town on an official assignment.
Justice Asare Botwe also gave strict instruction to the prosecutors to ensure they close their case by the 3rd of April 2015.
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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana