Request for bench warrant against ex-Minister rejected

Justice Dixon Kwame Afreh, Supreme Court Judge, hearing the Quality Grain case as an additional High Court Judge, on Wednesday turned down a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of former Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Adam for failing to attend court.

Osafo Sampong asked for the bench warrant after Sam Cudjoe, counsel for Adam, apologised for the absence of his client in court. Cudjoe told the court that his client travelled to Nigeria on Monday 16 December and was expected back the following day to attend court, but his flight was cancelled thus making it impossible for him to be present.

He said his client wrote a letter explaining the circumstances to the DPP. However, Sampong asked why the letter was not copied to either the Registrar or Manager of the Fast Track Court.

He also asked why counsel did not write the letter himself saying that it was very disrespectful for the accused person to travel outside the country only two days to the next adjourned date.

Sampong reminded the accused person that since he was granted bail in his own recognisance, it was incumbent upon him to make himself available to the court whenever the need arose.

The DPP pointed out that the courts must be accorded respect and dignity in their efforts at ensuring the administration and delivery of justice. He therefore applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused person.

However, Justice Afreh turned down the application, although he stated that it was regrettable that the accused person had to travel outside Ghana a couple of days to the hearing of the case.

He said the court had taken judicious notice of the fact that since the trial started in May last year, the accused person had always been punctual. Justice Afreh, therefore, accepted counsel's explanation and refused to grant the DPP's application.

Adam is jointly being tried with Kwame Peprah, former Minister of Finance, Dr Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr George Sipah Adjah Yankey, former Director of the Legal Sector, Private and Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance and Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff.

They are facing charges of conspiracy and causing financial loss to the State. The accused persons are being tried for their alleged involvement in the Quality Grain Project, which led to the loss of $22m to the State. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and are currently on self-recognisance bail.