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ABODAKPI JAILD FOR 10 YEARS IN ACCRA

Accra, Feb. 5.Ghanadot.com - After nearly seven years of trial Mr Dan Abodakpi, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Keta has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy; defrauding by false pretences and willfully causing 400,000-dollar financial loss to the State.

The Accra Fast Track High Court announced the verdict on Monday morning saying the 57, former Minister of Trade and Industry had been tried on seven counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and willfully causing a total loss of 2.73 billion cedis to the State.

The Court sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment on each of the seven counts, which are to run concurrently. On charge of conspiracy, the Court noted that two accused persons, who were joint chairmen of the Trade and Investment Programme (TIP), conspired and authorized the Managing Director of ECOBANK through their correspondence, to transfer 400,000 dollars in two tranches of 300,000 and 100,000 dollars to Dr Owusu-Boadu.

The correspondences to the Bank were made in August 2000 and December 2000 but the Investigator indicated to the Court that there were no correspondences in the Ministry's Log Books, a practice the Court described “abnormal.”

TIP a USAID funded project, was meant for non-traditional exporters and other components relating to economic development.

The Court claimed it proved that Selormey authorized the payment of the 400,000 to Dr Owusu-Boadu and correspondences were copied to Abodakpi and Dr Owusu-Boadu.

It noted that the accused falsely represented to the Managing Director of ECOBANK to pay for a feasibility study on the Science and Technology Valley Park Project, which was not conducted.

According to the Court, two Prosecution Witnesses had attested to the fact that the feasibility studies were not to be paid for.

The Court said the amounts, which belonged to the Government, were lost hence the charge "willfully causing financial loss to the State" was proved.

Mr Abodakpi denied all the charges and was on a self-recognisance bail of three billion cedis. The trial which started in 2002, with 10 witnesses testifying had the late Mr Victor Selormey also in the dock.

Mr Abodakpi was represented by Mr Charles Hayibor.

Present in court to show solidarity with their unfortunate colleague were NDC Members of Parliament Akua Dansua; Joe Adjaho; Kenneth Dzirasah; Mr Francis Agbotse and Dr Ben Kumbour.

The Prosecution has it that Abodakpi and Selormey were joint chairmen of the TIP, which provided 800,000 dollars as grant to be used for the non-traditional exports.

It said when the account of TIP was audited it was found that the accused persons took undue advantage and fraudulently caused the transfer of 400,000 dollars into the personal account of Dr Fred Owusu-Boadu, a consultant of Leebda Corporation.

The Prosecution said between May 2000 and December 2000, Abodakpi and Selormey allegedly transferred 400,000 dollars into the local bank account of Dr Owusu-Boadu through ECOBANK (Ghana) Limited.

The money, the transfers of which were authorized by Selormey, was to be used as fees for feasibility studies towards the establishment of a Science and Technology Valley Park Project.

The Project contract was to have been witnessed by the Legal Officers at the Ministry of Trade and Industry or the Attorney General's Department, but this was not done.

The transfers had no official correspondence between Dr Owusu-Boadu and either the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The Prosecution said both Abodakpi and the Consultant signed what was purported to be a contract but there was no witness and the contract document was not initialled page by page as required.

The contract lacked the detailed information required in a feasibility study; such as market analysis; financial projections and analysis to determine the financial viability and risk analysis of the Project, the Prosecution said.

It said there was irregular use of letterheads from a Texas University, with bills amounting to 400,000 dollars when the University was not party to the contract.

His colleagues expressed shock and disbelief at the verdict describing it as a sad day for democracy.
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Member of Parliament, (MP) for Lawra/Nandom, said that the Judge after convicting Abodakpi, did not go ahead to take mitigation from the Defence Counsel before sentencing the accused, which was unusual.

”It is not only a sad day for democracy in Ghana but in Africa as well.”

Ms Akua Dansua, NDC-North Dayi, said it was as if the Judge had a pre-conceived mind in passing the sentence, adding; "it is up to us to appeal".

She said it was strange for the Judge to err in his summing up by pronouncing National Democratic Congress as National Defence Council and added that it pointed to the mind set of the Judge.

Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, NDC-Asawase, said it was sad that in an effort to serve one's country one should end up jail.

Mr Jonathan Tackie-Kommey, NDC-Odododiodio, said Abodakpi had served his country very well by being selfless and it was shocking for him to end up this way.

”There is a question mark on the whole sentence and that it was a case for the posterity to judge.”

Mr Kwabena Okerchiri, First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, declined to comment. He said he did not have any knowledge about the vierdict, but his body language suggested “ oh how?”
Mr P. C. Appiah-Ofori, NPP-Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, said he was not happy about the sentence adding that Abodakpi's absence from the House would be a great loss to Parliament and Ghana.
”Abodakpi’s absence from the House would be felt stressing that he was an asset to the House in terms of his experience and work especially on the Finance Committee. "It is sad that he has to go through this,"

Ghanadot.com, Feb 5, 2007.










 

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