The courts are fair; rule of law has prevailed - Asamoah Boateng

Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Friday, expressed his appreciation to God after an Accra Fast Track High Court acquitted and discharged him and his wife Zulieka Jennifer Lorwia.

The court presided over by Mr. Justice Charles Quist noted that the prosecution was unable to prove the charges leveled against Mr. Asamoah Boateng and the wife.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, who spoke with newsmen after the ruling, noted that he and his wife had gone through a lot for the past five years when the case started.

The former Minister of Information described the court ruling as a stepping stone to better things to come; adding, “indeed the rule of law has prevailed, the courts are fair.

“The counsel of the Lord had stood today and I am grateful to God for that”.

He expressed his readiness to support his other colleagues’ who have been asked by the court to open their defence.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng and his wife were discharged on the charges of conspiracy and contravention of the public procurement act after he and the other accused persons had filed a submission of no case before the court when prosecution closed its case.

Prosecution led by Mr. Rexford Anthony Wiredu, Chief State Attorney, called eight witnesses to make their case.

Two others, Kwabena Denkyira, Deputy Director in charge of Finance and Administration and Yasmine Dormua, a Manageress at Plexiform Ventures, were also discharged on the forgery of documents and deceit of public officer respectively charges.

The court however ordered Mr Frank Agyekum, former Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation and others to open their defence on June 25 on the charges leveled against them.

The three include Dominic Yaw Sampong, a former Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Information, Mr Kofi Asamoah Boateng a former Director of Finance and Administration, Prosper Anku of the Supreme Procurement Agency Limited and Supreme Procurement Agency Limited a non-legal entity.

They are being held on the deceit of public officer, forgery and uttering official documents respectively.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng was standing trial with seven others, including his wife, for allegedly conspiring to defraud the state of the amount of Ghc86,915.85.

They are alleged to have contravened the Procurement Act by not following due processes in awarding the contract amounting to GH¢86,915.85 to Plexiform Ventures for renovation works at the ministerial block of the Ministry of Information which some portions were razed down by fire.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted bail.