[ 2014-10-11 ]

'I relied on Abuga Peles advice'- Humado
Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - Mr Clement Kofi Humado,
former Minister of Youth and Sports, told the
Financial Division of the Fast Track High Court
that, he relied on the technical advice and
competence of Abuga Pele.

“I told him I was freshly appointed and had
barely been at post, so if he (Pele) is satisfied
with the deliverables, then l can approve the
process, which he did,” he added.

The payment was in relations to a memo forwarded
to Mr Humado, asking for reimbursement to the
Management Development and Productivity Institute
(MDPI) and Goodwill International Ghana consortium
for work done to collate data to be forwarded to
the World Bank.

Activities performed by the consortium were listed
as labour policy review, action plan for Youth
Enterprises Programme (YEP) development, exit
programme for all YEP modules and the engagement
of 250 people to collate data for the World Bank.

Mr Humado was answering questions in a
cross-examination from Raymond Bagnabu, Counsel
for Philip Akpeena Assibit in the GH₵ 4.1
million GYEEDA trial in Accra on Friday.

Pele, former National Co-ordinator, Ghana Youth
Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency
(GYEEDA) and Assibit, a Representative from
Goodwill International Ghana are facing various
charges for causing financial loss of GH₵
41.1 million to the state.

The state has accused Assibit of putting in false
claims that he had secured a $65-million World
Bank funding for the creation of one million jobs
for the youth that claim led government to part
with GH₵ 4.1 million.

Meanwhile, Pele is also alleged to have entered
into a contract with Assibit to engage in
activities which have injured the state
financially.

They both pleaded not guilty to all charges and
are on bail.

Asked whether, the witness knew there was no
agreement between MDPI and GYEEDA; he said he was
not in the position to know since the agreement
was signed prior to his assumption of office.

The former sector Minister said, he got the first
request letter on the letterhead of MDPI, later on
the MDPI/GIG consortium letterhead and another
solely on GIG letterhead, so it would be strange
to him, if they don’t have an agreement.

The counsel, also made reference to a cabinet memo
addressed to the witness, which indicated that the
$65-million World Bank facility was secured but Mr
Humado said the facility was not secured.

“No money was released to the Ministries of
Finance and Youth and Sports to the best of my
knowledge,” he added.

Source - GNA

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