JJ's Kids In Court

Accra (Daily Guide) -- There were exciting moments at the premises of an Accra Fast-Track High Court yesterday when three children of the former first couple appeared in the courtroom in the company of their mother, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

Amina and Yaa Asantewaa, along with their younger brother, Kimathi, arrived at the court premises in a four-wheel Toyato Landcruiser in solidarity with the life-president of the 31st December Women’s Movement (31st DWM), who is standing trial with five others on nearly 30 charges including causing financial loss to the state.

Notably absent were the eldest daughter, Ezenator, her father, JJ Rawlings, and his special assistant, Victor Smith, who frequently accompanied the former first lady to court. Also present were Mrs. Agyeman, Konadu’s mother and one of her sisters, who were both in court to give moral support.

Accompanying Konadu were a dozen young men dressed in ‘Stop Aids’ T-shirts, who served as the drummers and dancers for the occasion.

However, more noticeable were a group of men and women wielding placards, some of which read,

• “KONADU, GHANAIAN WOMEN ARE PROUD OF YOU”
• “4 NEW PORCHE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AT 180,000 EACH FOR K4 AND CHILDREN. WAA WAA WAA”.
• “K4 IN 4 YEARS HAS BOUGHT 6 HOUSES. JUST IMAGINE THIS THIEF! WAA WAA WAA WAA!”
• “GEORGINA WOOD, THIS IS A TEST CASE FOR YOU”
• “CHIEF KUFUOR LOANS? ARE THEY ALSO CRIME?”
• “STOP HARASSING HARD WORKING WOMEN”
• “KUFUOR’S POVERTY, THE VALUE IS THE SAME.”

Friends and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as red-bereted members of the 31st December Women’s Movement (31st DWM) were not left out, as they thronged the court premises wearing red bands on their heads and on other parts of their bodies.

Those who could not get access to the courtroom stood outside, as the ‘jama kpanlongo’ group drummed, to which they danced while extolling the virtues of the former president and his wife throughout the proceedings, which were eventually adjourned.

Meanwhile, at the Fast-track court presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, Mr. Adjei Ampofo, counsel for the fourth accused person, Kwame Peprah, former Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), informed the court that he had filed an application for the charges against his client to be dropped.

However, the acting Director for Public Prosecution (DPP), Miss Gertrude Aikins told the court that she had not been served, and so would need a few days to go through the application and respond to it appropriately.

Counsel for Peprah hoped to use the indemnity clause in the DIC laws to free his client, since according to him, all the duties the former minister performed in his capacity as Chairman of DIC was a duty by law and refusal to follow through with it would have been unlawful.

Tony Lithur, counsel for Konadu, also stated that an application for stay of proceedings had been filed. But he did not elaborate further before the case was adjourned to July 12, 2007 for the motions to be argued.

DAILY GUIDE had a hint that Konadu had appealed for a stay of proceedings until a civil suit she filed against the Attorney-General and DIC last year which was thrown out by the trial Judge, was determined.

Other persons standing trial in the case include Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Managing Director of Caridem, Emmanuel Agbodo, Former Executive Secretary of DIC and Thomas Benson Owusu, an accountant. The accused persons are facing 30 charges including conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, use of false statement to acquire public property and willfully causing financial loss to the state.
Their alleged role in the divesture of GIHOC Nsawam Cannery to Caridem, belonging to the 31st DWM of which Nana Konadu is the President, was said to be fraudulent as the signatures on the documents used in the transaction were forged. They have pleaded not guilty to all the counts and are on self-cognisance bail.