A prosecution witness in the trial of two former Ministers of State and four other persons in connection with the Quality Grain scandal, told the Fast Track Court in Accra that Ibrahim Adam, one time Agriculture Minister introduced Juliet Renee Woodard, a director of Quality Grain Company to him for assistance.
Dr Paul Kuranchie, Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) said sometime in 1995, he invited the lady for discussion and advised her to submit a report on a 5.6 million-dollar rice project she wanted to undertake in the Volta Region.
Adam, Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the Agriculture Ministry, Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, George Yankey, former Director of the Legal Sector of the Ministry of Finance, Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff and Kwesi Ahwoi, former Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, are variously charged with conspiracy and causing a 20 million dollar financial loss to the state.
They have all pleaded not guilty and are on self-cognisance bail.
Led in evidence by Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Kuranchie said when Woodard brought the report he referred it to the bank's Project Manager for re-appraisal.
He said the bank declined to assist because the amount involved was above its quantum. Besides she was unable to provide 4.2 million dollars the bank requested.
Another witness, Mr John Cooke, Project Manager of the bank, said he studied the report and found that the project could be feasible.
He said the company could not, however, satisfy the bank's conditions after re-appraisal of the report.
Hearing continues on Friday, July 6
