No document to indicate transfer of accused - Witness

Accra, March 8, GNA - Mr Godfred Agyapong, Head of Audit at the Bure= au of National Investigations (BNI), on Tuesday said, there was no document to indicate the transfer of Mr Kofi Asamaoh Boateng, Former Director of Financ= e and Administration at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation from the Ministry of Tourism.

He told an Accra Fast Track High Court on Tuesday that, 93technically= " Kofi Asamoah Boateng's contract at the Ministry of Tourism ended on July 30, 2007. Led in evidence by Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Chief State Attorney, witness said Kofi Asamoah Boateng, who had worked in the Civil Service retired on October 12, 2008. Mr Agyapong was testifying in the case in which Kofi Asamoah Boateng, Stephen Asamoah Boateng ex-Minister of Information and National Orientation= , his wife Zulieka Lorwia and six others are standing trial for failing to follow due process before rehabilitating the Ministerial building. Mr Agyapong, the fifth prosecution witness said, in Kofi Asamoah Boateng's letter of resignation, he indicated that he had picked a parliamentary nomination form in Offinso North Constituency and was going t= o stand as an independent candidate to pursue his political career. Witness said although Kofi Asamoah Boateng resigned on October 15, 2008, his contract letter was however dated on October 16, 2008. He recalled that on October 24, 2007, Stephen Asamoah Boateng wrote a letter to the Head of the Civil Service to re-engage Kofi Asamoah Boateng, because Diaspora Relations has been added to the then Information Ministry. The Head of Audit of BNI said Mr E.P.D Barnes, Chief Director, Office of the Head of Civil Service on November 2, 2007 responded to the said letter, which he (the witness) wanted to tender in evidence.

The defence counsels objected to the tendering of the document because (he) Mr Agyapong was not the author, the letter was a photocopy and it was not coming from the right custody, hence it should not be tendered. The court however, overruled it saying it was coming from a public entity that is the Office of the Head of Civil Service. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, his wife, Zulieka Lorwia and six public officers have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the State. Also in court was a non-legal entity firm, Supreme Procurement Agencie= s Limited. The accused persons are alleged to have conspired to defraud the State of GH¢86,915.85 in renovation works, undertaken on the Ministerial Block, during Asamoah-Boateng's tenure of office. Other accused persons are Frank Agyekum, Former Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dominic A. Sampong, Former Acting Chief Director, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Kwabena Denkyira, Former Director of Finance and Administration of the Ministry, Prosper Arku of the non-legal entity firm and Yasmine Domua, a businesswoman. They have all pleaded not guilty. The court has admitted them to GH¢10,000 bail each with a surety. Hearing continues on March 9.