Court adjourns proceedings for lack of Ga Interpreter

An Accra Fast Track Court hearing the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case on Tuesday had to adjourn proceedings to the following day because there was no interpreter to assist in translating the Prosecution Witness's evidence from Ga to English.

When the case was called, Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that since the seventh prosecution witness could only speak Ga there was the need to get an interpreter, who could translate her evidence into English.

Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, the trial judge, had no alternative than to adjourn the matter to Wednesday to enable the court to arrange for an interpreter.

Four persons are standing trial in the case for their alleged involvement in bribery and corruption in connection with the privatisation of the company.

They are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Ralph Casely-Hayford, Businessman, and Sati Dorcas Ocran, Housewife.

All four have pleaded not guilty to their various charges, and the court has granted them bail in their own recognisance.