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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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