Abodakpi Loses Appeal

AN APPEAL FILED for Dan Abodakpi, former Minister for Trade and Industry for stay of proceedings at the Fast Track Court in the case in which he and Selormey are charged with fraudulent transfer of ?2.7billion belonging to the state has been dismissed by the Appeal Court.

The court, empanelled by Justices (Ms.) Rose C. Owusu and S. K. Asiama with Justice Omari Sasu presiding, yesterday, unanimously dismissed the writ, deferring to give reasons for their decision to today.

As a result of the ruling of the court, the FTC, in effect, would continue with its summary trials of the former ministers of state for their alleged offence committed when they presided over the Trade and Investment Programme (TIP) fund.

The accused persons, Dan Abodakpi and Victor Selormey, former deputy Minister for Finance, currently serving an eight-year jail sentence, were jointly accused of causing the transfer of US$400,000 equivalent in cedis from the TIP interest account with Ecobank into the personnel account of a consultant, Dr. Frederick Owusu Boadu of Leebda Corporation in Texas.

The said amount was in respect of a feasibility study into the establishment of a Science and Technology Community Park/Valley purportedly contracted between Dr. Boadu and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to causing financial loss to the state and are, each, on a ?3billion self-recognisance bail.

Mr. Kwabla Dogbe Senanu, counsel for Dan Abodakpi, had requested for a stay of proceedings at the FTC to await an appeal filed on the mode of trial of the accused persons.

According to counsel, the accused persons would not be given fair trial if they were tried summarily as the FTC sought to do, and for that matter, his clients should be tried on indictment.

The assessment of defence counsel was, however, rejected by the FTC on the basis that it solely rests on the Attorney-General to decide on the mode of trial since the offence is a second degree felony which attracts jail sentence up to a maximum of 25years, unlike trial by indictment, a first degree felony, which attracts a death sentence.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Gyambiby, put this assertion forward in his arguments in response to defence counsel's arguments.