Abodakpi's Trial Continues

Mr. Abubakari Bibilazu, Acting Director for Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) on Monday told an Accra Fast Track Court that a feasibility study on the Science and Technology Park Valley by a local consultant would cost 75,000 dollars.

Stating his findings on the Science and Technology Park Valley, a project under the Trade and Investment Project (TIP) Mr. Bibilizu said in the case of an "off shore consultant," the study would cost 150,000 dollars, to include consultant's air ticket, hotel bills among other things.


Mr. Bibilazu said this when he was led in evidence by Mr. Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney in the case in which Daniel Abodakpi, ex-Minister of Trade and Industry and Victor Selormey, deputy Minister of Finance, are being tried on seven counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing a total loss of 2.73 billion cedis to the State.


They have denied all the charges and are currently on self-recognisance bail in the sum of three billion cedis each. The Acting Director told the court that the government established the MDPI to research, provide management consultancy, and capacity development for both public and private sectors.


Mr Bibilazu, who is also a management consultant said on May 30, 2001, at about 4:30pm, he received a letter attached with a document from the Police Special Task Force. According to him, the letter was asking the Director of MDPI to study whether the attached document had qualities of a feasibility report and it's cost.


Mr Bibilazu said the title of the document read: Proposal on Science and Technology Park Valley that seeks to promote private sector partnership. When he received the letter and the document, a three-member team was set up and they studied the terms of reference of the letter.

He mentioned that he was the leader of the team that studied the report. According to Mr. Bibilazu two weeks after the team had finished its work, they presented a letter and two copies of its findings to the Police Special Task Force.


Mr. Charles Hayibor, counsel for Abodakpi objected to the tendering of the letter attached to the document saying the document had no signature and had no seal on it. Replying, prosecution said defence arguments were unfounded, as the document could not have been signed with a covering letter from the Police Special Task Force.


Mr. Stephen T. Farkye, an Appeal court Judge who is sitting as an additional High Court judge, however, overruled the objection and the court admitted the letter and the document into evidence.


In cross-examination by Mr Hayibor, witness agreed that the document forwarded to him was a feasibility report. When counsel demanded to know the difference between a proposal and feasibility report, witness said, proposals normally may not look at the viability of a project where as feasibility study may look at the viability of a project.Hearing continues on May 19.