The Fast Track Court, on Thursday ruled that Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister and four others should on Tuesday, December 11, open their defence because a "prima facie" case had been made against them in the Quality Grain trial.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, however, acquitted and discharged Kwesi Ahwoi, the sixth accused and former Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), for lack of evidence.
Mr Justice Afreh said it was in evidence that in 1994 when the offence was committed, Ahwoi, charged with conspiracy, was not in office and that he ceased to be at post in 1992.
The court's ruling was in respect of submissions of "no case" against the accused persons by the defence and countered by the prosecution.
Peprah, Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey and Nana Ato Dadzie, all former senior public officials, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss of 21 million dollars to the state by causing the government to guarantee the amount as loan to Quality Grain Company without approval.
Each of them is on a self-recognisance bail. All the defence counsel, except that of Dr Dapaah, told the court that they would appeal against the ruling and pleaded with it to give them enough time to file their application of stay of proceedings pending notice of appeal.
Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice, objected to the application on the grounds that there was nothing before the court except the oral application for it to adjourn proceedings.
She, therefore, urged the court to allow proceedings to continue but the defence continued to plead until the court adjourned to December 11. Counsel for Dr Dapaah, however, indicated that his client was prepared to open his defence.
