Peprah, Adam, Yankey jailed in Quality
Grain case
Accra (Greater Accra)
Kwame Peprah,
Former Minster of Finance was sentenced to four years' imprisonment while
Ibrahim Adam, Former Minister of Food and Agriculture and George Yankey, a
Former Director of Legal Sector, Private and Financial Institutions of the
Ministry of Finance were sentenced to two years' imprisonment each.
The Trial Judge acquitted and
discharged Nana Ato Dadzie,
Former Chief of Staff and Samuel Dapaah, Former Chief
Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. They were charged with
conspiracy and causing financial loss of 20 million dollars to the State in a
rice project at Aveyime in the Volta Region.
Reading his judgement, which
went on for seven hours, Justice Afreh, a Supreme
Court Judge sitting as additional High Court Judge, noted that the country had
suffered as a result of the misappropriation of public funds adding that laws
had been propounded to curb the incident.
He said he took into
consideration the pleas of the defence team, the length of the trial, which was
two years and ages of the officials. "I personally hope that I do not
involve myself in a case like this, at a time that I'm going on
retirement."
There was a conspicuous security
presence at the court, which was besieged by relatives of those on trial. Among
the crowd that witnessed the judgement were Professor John Evans Atta Mills,
Former Vice President; Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Former
Presidential Adviser and Dr Nii Josiah-Aryeh, General
Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The rest were Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, NDC Vice Chairman;
Joseph Owusu-Acheampong, Former Minister of Food and Agriculture; Alhaji
Muhammad Mumuni, Minority Spokesman on Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs and Lee Ocran, Vice Chairman, NDC.
Immediately after the
pronouncement of judgement, the courtroom became quiet, but in no time some
relatives of the convicts cried uncontrollably. Police had a hectic time
escorting the convicts away to begin their sentences at the Nsawam
Medium Security Prison.
Before the sentence, the Defence
team prayed the court to be lenient with their clients, since there was a
serious error by the Prosecution. The Defence added that accused persons were all
family men and that if they should be sent to jail their homes would be broken.
They also stated that the
businesses of some of their clients had collapsed, a
situation that had made their livelihood very difficult. Counsel also noted
that this was not a case of stealing as happened in the case of Mallam Isa, who was convicted by a Fast Track Court of
stealing thereby causing financial loss to the state.
They noted further that none of
their clients transferred any money meant for the Quality Grain project into
their personal accounts. George Yankey, whose Attorney
was absent and spoke for himself said: "If I were asked to go and steal or
kill I would not have done that."
He added that all that he did
was to ensure the success of the rice cultivation in Aveyime
saying: "In fact I worked tirelessly towards the project and if I should
be sentenced for an offence that I have not committed, I leave it to the
Almighty."
Acquitting Nana Ato Dadzie, the Trial Judge noted
that there was no default on his part as he paid compensation to the settlers. He
said the land had been acquired long ago, saying the State was bound to pay the
compensation hence he did not cause financial loss to the State.
Speaking to Journalists later,
Samuel Dapaah said: "I give thanks to the Lord
and no (more) comments." Alhaji Yahaya said:
"The due process is not ended; we would consult our lawyers." When
the GNA contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Osafo Sampong, he said he sent people to the court to be
prosecuted, and that they had been convicted.
He said he went to the court
with a particular purpose, which he had achieved. The Prosecution called 21
witnesses. The Quality Grain scandal revolved around a
GRi.../
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