Nii Lantey Vanderpuje case

Accra, Aug. 10 GNA - Mr Nelson Awudu, Second Prosecution Witness, on Tuesday told an Accra Circuit Court that Nii Lantey Vanderpuje, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Odododiodio Constituency, gave out an electoral slip to be given to him. Nii Lantey, a Broadcaster at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), is standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court charged with abetment of crime. He has pleaded not guilty.

Two others, Musah Fuseini also known as Alhaji Musah and Gariba Mohammed, who are in the dock with Nii Lantey, are charged with registering as voters without authority. They have also pleaded not guilty.


The Court presided over by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh has granted each of them 30 million cedis bail with a surety.


Mr Awudu, who was being cross-examined by Mr Okaija Adamafio, Counsel for Nii Lantey, told the Court that Musah took him and nine others to Nii Lante's house at Korle Woko on June 23, and they met him in the house but not on his way out as Counsel had suggested. Mr Awudu said when they got to Nii Lantey's house, Musa went and knocked at the door and he came out and spoke with Musa for a few minutes.


He said Nii Lantey went back into his room and brought some electoral slips.


Witness said Nii Lantey gave the slips to Musa who in-turn distributed them to them.

He said they went the registration centre to have their photographs taken and issued voter with identification card (ID). Mr Awudu said he became angry, when they got back to the house and the ID cards were being collected from them because no reason was given. He said he later decided to give the cards back to Musa because the others had already done so.


Mr Awudu said after that Nii Lante came out of his room to serve them some soft drinks.


According to Witness, Nii Lantey urged them not worry in case of any problem.


Witness said Nii Lante also brought out some money and he asked them, whom their leader and Musa asked that the money should be given to Gariba but it was later given to one Muniru to share.


Mr Awudu further told the court that Nii Lante promised to visit them regularly until the voting day when he would bring a vehicle to convey them to the polling station where they took their photographs to vote.

Mr Awudu disagreed with a suggestion from Counsel that he had concocted the story and that there was no iota of truth in his story. During cross-examination by Mr Samuel Ofori, Counsel for Fuseini Musah and Gariba Mohamed, second and third accused persons, Mr Awudu said he left the house of Nii Lante under the instructions of Bansan Borkwei, one of the accused persons, who is now at large and not that of Nii Lantey.


The Witness maintained that Bansan Borkwei only led them to a polling station.


Mr Augustines Obuor, Assistant State Attorney, tendered through Mr Nathaniel Quaye Aryeequaye, third Prosecution Witness and an Electoral Officer for the Odododiodio Constituency, 10 electoral registration forms as exhibits.


The Witness also identified the polling stations and the registration numbers on the forms. The case was adjourned to August 11. 10 Aug. 04