SSNIT frees Ibrahim Mahama

An Accra district court has struck out the suit brought against construction firm, Engineers & Planners and its chief executive, Ibrahim Mahama, over non-payment of Social Security contributions of its staff.

The action follows the withdrawal of the case by lawyers of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

SSNIT had hauled Mr. Mahama, a brother of former President John Dramani Mahama and three other directors of the company to court over GH¢1 million unpaid SSNIT contributions of staff of the company.

Others

The other directors are Kwadwo Aboagye-Attah, Director; Sulemana Ahmed Amidu, Director Executive and Sidney Audrey Steyn, Managing Director.

Mr. Mahama came recently under investigation by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for reportedly issuing 44 dud cheques to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), making the country lose over GH¢10 million in revenue.

He has however, reportedly paid the full amount of GH¢12.5 million to the state.

Charges

In the latest case, it was the contention of the prosecutor, Leena Adomah Boakye, that the accused persons, between the periods of February to July 2015, June to August 2016 and October 2016, failed to pay to the Trust the Social Security contribution to the tune of GH¢668,754.75.

The four were facing an additional charge of failure to pay penalty of GH¢387,709.31 on the said contributions.

At the hearing of the case on Saturday, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, who appeared in court with his usual “entourage,” including Alhaji Bature, editor of the Alhaji Newspaper as well as his lawyers, denied the charges.

Arguments

Nancy Amartefio, lawyer for the business mogul, said his client had paid the money in excess of GH¢2 million.

She stated that Mr. Mahama paid the amount before the first court date on April, 29, adding that she did not know why SSNIT was still continuing with the case.

Leena told the court that the accused person paid the debt after the writ of summons was served on them on April 13, 2017.

The prosecutor was emphatic that she also had instructions from her superiors to discontinue the prosecution of the matter.

This compelled the judge, Efua G. Sackey, to strike out the case as withdrawn.

Journalists Prevented

Meanwhile, journalists covering the case were prevented from taking notes in the court, although it’s a practice which is allowed even at the Supreme Court.

A policeman at the beginning of the hearing walked to the reporters in the court ordering them to stop writing – an action which created a scene, drawing the attention of the judge to the controversy.

Having enquired from the over-zealous policeman, the judge surprisingly gave her blessing to the action.

The helpless journalists had no other option than to listen with rapt attention and later confer with one another in order to reconcile their notes.

Facts

As required by the National Pensions Act, 2008, Act 766, the employer is expected to pay Social Security on behalf of the employees at the end of every month.

Inspections conducted by officers of the Trust into the pay books of the accused person’s establishment revealed that between the said period the unpaid Social Security contributions of GH¢668,754.75 attracted a penalty of GH¢387,709, bringing the total indebtedness of the accused persons to GH¢1,056,709.31.