GREL case adjourned because witness was not available

The judge in the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) divestiture case on Friday adjourned proceedings to February 18 because a prosecution witness was not in court.

When the case was called, Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told the Accra Fast Track Court that the prosecution could not produce its next witness.

"My Lord, due to unavoidable circumstances, we could not get in touch with the seventh prosecution witness", Mr Sampong said.

Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, an Appeal Court Judge with an additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, asked the prosecution to endeavour to produce the witness at the next adjourned date.

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

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, a Businessman and Sati Dorcas Ocran, a Housewife.

The four allegedly influenced the divestiture of GREL in favour of Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea, a French company.

They have pleaded not guilty to their various charges and the court has granted them bail in their own recognisance. Before announcing the adjournment date, Mr Justice Amonoo-Monney enquired from the DPP how many more witnesses the Prosecution intended to call.

In reply, the DPP said he intended to call two more witnesses including the investigator in the case.

Since the case started last year, the Prosecution has called six witnesses.