Mr Etienne Marie Arthur-Popler, former Managing Director (MD) of the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) on Friday told an Accra Fast Track Court that Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH), was to donate one million dollars to the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) in order to win the bid for the privatisation of GREL.
The money, he said, formed part of three conditions, which the Paris-based company had to fulfil in its desire to win GREL's divestiture bid. Mr Arthur-Popler made this revelation when he continued his evidence-in-chief at the on-going trial of Hanny Sherry-Ayittey, former treasurer of the 31st DWM and three others for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices during the divestiture of GREL.
The three others are Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former boss of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), Ralph Casely-Hayford, businessman and Satirieh Dorcas Ocran, housewife.
They have all pleaded not guilty to their various charges of corruption, and the court presided over by Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, had granted each of them a self-recognisance bail. Mr Johnny Quarshie-Idun, Mr J. E. Senoo, Mr Heward Mills and Mr Agyemang Bempah are representing Ayittey, Agbodo, Casely-Hayford and Ocran, in that order.
Mr Arthur-Popler said the other conditions were that SIPH was to pay for the correct price of GREL and continue to develop GREL to enable it compete with other rubber companies in the country. He said SIPH agreed to the conditions and following negotiations, a memorandum of understanding was signed between SIPH and DWM on February 20, 1996.
The second prosecution witness said the negotiations continued, thereafter, and on June 26, the same year, SIPH received an official letter from DIC selling 75 per cent of GREL's shares to SIPH for 20 million French Francs.
Earlier, Mr Arthur-Popler had told the court that in May 1995, Mr Oliver de Saint Sienne, Financial Manager of SIPH, came to Ghana to 'see' the 31st DWM, which according to Dr Albert Owusu-Barnafo, could be very influential in the divestiture of GREL.
Witness said at a meeting with Ayittey at her office with Mr Sienne, himself, Mrs Georgina Okaitey, another witness in the case and Dr Owusu-Barnafo, the two sides briefed each other on the activities of their respective organisations.
At her office, Mr Arthur-Popler said, Sienne gave out a 'closed envelope' containing a cheque for 20,000 dollars to Ayittey. Asked what the purpose of the money was, Mr Arthur-Popler said it was meant to persuade the movement to influence the decisions of DIC in the divestiture of GREL, saying, "it was help for help".
Witness told the court that Ayittey, thereafter, took them to the office of the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, where she Ayittey made a brief introduction.
During cross-examination by Mr Quarshie-Idun, Counsel for Ayittey, witness disagreed with him that the Financial Manager of SIPH, Mr Sienne sacked him for siphoning the company's money. Witness said, however, that Mr Sienne asked him to resign, which he did. The case was adjourned to Wednesday, February 20.
