Rice expert testifies in Quality Grain case

AN American rice development expert, Mr Jay Anderson, yesterday testified in the case in which six top public officials, including two former Ministers of State, are being tried for the alleged roles they played in causing more than $20 million financial loss to the state in the Quality Grain Company scandal.

Those being tried are Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Kwame Peprah, former Minister of Finance.

The rest are Dr George Yankey, former Director of the Legal Sector, Private and Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance, Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff and Kwesi Ahwoi, Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

They have been charged on two counts of conspiracy and causing financial loss to the state. they have pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, an Appeal Court judge, sitting as an additional High Court judge, has granted them self-cognisance bail.

Led in evidence by Mr Osafo Sampong, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Anderson, who is from Texas in the United States of America, said he found the equipment procured for the Aveyime Rice Project as one of the best in the world.

Mr Anderson, who said he is a member of the American Rice Growers Association, added that he had been involved in rice production in Nigeria since 1979.

He said he visited Ghana in September, 1992 at the invitation of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and toured a number of sites at Afife, Asutsuare, Akuse, Kpong, Tono, Aveyime, and Dawhenya to find a suitable site for a rice production project.

Mr Anderson said after the visit, he made a proposal to the ministry but did not receive a response.

Witness denied upon cross examination that he had been paid by the Serious Fraud Office and the Attorney-General’s Department to give evidence against the accused persons.

He said the bills being picked by the Attorney-General’s Department are in connection with his expenses while in the country.

Hearing continues.