Quality Grain: Prosecution ordered to bring remaining witnesses

Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, trying the Quality Grain case at the Fast Track Court in Accra, on Wednesday turned down an application for adjournment by the prosecution and directed it to bring all its remaining witnesses to court on Monday, August 13 for continuation of the case.

This followed defence counsel's objection to Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution's (DPP) request for a long adjournment because the next prosecution witness was not available and also that the General Legal Year has begun.

The legal year begins from the first week of August and ends in the first week of October, a period when judges of the superior courts go on sabbatical leave.

No sooner had Mr Sampong completed his submission than counsel for all the accused persons, simultaneously rose and vehemently objected to the application.

Mr Justice Afreh said he has been instructed to sit as a vacation judge and hear the case and invited the most senior counsel, Mr Kwaku Baah to react to the application.

Quoting several legal authorities counsel said the application was an "abuse of the legal process."

Mr Baah said the prosecution was trying to obstruct justice deliberately and asked the court to remind the DPP that it was ready to sit regularly and ensure a speedy trial.

The accused persons are, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah, former Ministers of Food and Agriculture and Finance respectively, Dr Kwame Dapaah, Dr George Yankey, Nana Ato Dadzie and Kwesi Ahwoi, all former senior public officials. They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and causing financial loss to the state.