Asabee and others go to Supreme Court

A counsel in the case of Stephen Asamoah Boateng, ex- Minister of Information and seven others being held for contravening the Public Procurement Act (PPA), on Tuesday prayed to the court to halt its proceedings.

Mr. Augustines Obuor, a counsel for Dominic Yaw Sampong, told the Fast Track Court that he had filed a motion before the Supreme Court over its ruling on the age of Mr. Anthony Gyambiby, a former Chief State Attorney now deputy Attorney-General (A-G), who was prosecuting the case.

According to Mr. Obuor, the Supreme Court had fixed October 30 to hear the motion.

In the motion, Mr. Obuor said they were seeking the Supreme Court to declare proceedings undertaken by Mr. Gyambiby in respect of accused persons null and void.

The Fast Track High Court presided over by Mr. Justice Charles Quist, declined to stay proceedings saying the Court of Appeal had dismissed the motion because it had no merit.

Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu, a Principal State Attorney, who has now taken over prosecution, said he was not aware of the motion before the Supreme Court.

Mr. Obuor said the Attorney General’s Office had been served and it could be that it had not been forwarded to him.

When the Fast Track proceeded to continue with the hearing today, Mr. Atta Akyea, counsel for Kwabena Denkyira, was not around to cross examine the prosecution witness.

The counsel therefore entreated Mr. Attah Akyea to endeavor to appear on September 24, this year, so he could cross-examine a witness in the dock.

Defence counsels had always maintained that Mr. Gyambiby ceased to be a public officer when he became 60 years, adding that there was nothing before the court to show that the services of the Chief State Attorney had been re-engaged at the Attorney-General’s Department.

They said Mr. Gyambiby, after attaining the retiring age, was expected to resign, after which his or her services could be re-engaged if necessary.

Asamoah-Boateng, together with his wife Zuleika Jennifer Lorwia and the others, are standing trial for allegedly conspiring to contravene the Procurement Act by not following due processes in awarding a contract amounting to GH¢86, 915.85 to Plexiform Ventures for renovation works at the Ministry of Information.

The rest are Frank Agyekum, former Deputy Minister of Information, Kofi Asamoah Boateng, former Director of Finance and Administration and Dominic Yaw Sampong, Acting Chief Director.

The others are Kwabena Denkyira, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, Yasmine Domua, Manageress, Prosper Aku of the Supreme Procurement Agency and the company Supreme Procurement Agencies Limited.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted GH?10,000 cedis bail each.