I only read money transfers in newspapers - Anane

Accra, June 8, GNA - Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Minister of Transportation, on Thursday told the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) that he only got to know that his Former Special Assistant, Mr Collins Kwame Duodu-Bonsu made money transfers to Miss Alexandria O'Brien from newspaper reports.

Dr Anane, who was answering questions under cross-examination from the Commission's Counsel, Dr Philip Ebow Bondzie-Simpson, therefore, disagreed with a suggestion that he was aware of those transfers by Mr Duodu-Bonsu, and that they were done on his behalf.

The Minister is before the investigative panel of CHRAJ to answer questions on certain allegations, stemming from media reports about his relationship with the American Lady, coupled with Mr Raymond Archer's petition to the Appointments' Committee of Parliament challenging his re-appointment for a Ministerial position.

There is no complainant responsible for the allegations against Dr Anane, which include corruption, abuse of office and conflict of interest.

Continuing with his evidence, Dr Anane told the Panel that he returned to chest, through his Chief Director, some monies, after his official trip to Montreal, Canada from late September to early October 2004.

Asked by Counsel whether his Chief Director had since returned the funds to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, which funded the trip, the Minister's response was in the negative, adding that it had never occurred to him to enquire about that from the Chief Director. Dr Anane told the Commission that he once had a bank account in the United Kingdom, but said, even though, he left Britain some time ago, he had not written to close that account.

The Minister told Counsel that he would, therefore, not be surprised to hear that that foreign account of his was still active. Dr Anane disagreed with a suggestion by Counsel that Mr Duodu-Bonsu transferred money from that foreign account to Miss Alexandria, on his behalf.

Mr Ken Anku, Communications Consultant of the Ministry of Transportation, who gave evidence as the Commission's last witness, told the Panel that he first met Miss Alexandria with a baby, Nicholas Anane, at the premises of the Ministry during the latter part of 2003. Led in evidence by Dr Bondzie-Simpson, Mr Anku said the Lady had then come to the Ministry shouting at the top of her voice that she was Mrs Alexandria Anane and that she wanted to see her husband Dr Anane. Witness told the Commission that he neither had occasion to discuss what Miss Alexandria said nor informed the Minister about it. Mr Anku said at a second meeting with Miss Alexandria at a hotel, he handed over a ticket to her to travel to the United States with Ghana Airways at the instance of Dr Anane.

Asked by Counsel whether the Minister gave him money to purchase the ticket, witness replied in the affirmative, adding that its face value was a little over 1,000 dollars.

Mr Anku denied ever facilitating the transfer of an amount of 10,000 dollars to Miss Alexandria, or conspiring with Mr Duodu-Bonsu to remit money to her.

During cross-examination by Mr Jacob Acquah-Sampson, Lead Counsel for Dr Anane, Mr Anku told the Panel that he did not know whether there was any documentation between the Minister and his Chief Director concerning the refund of funds after the Minister's official trip to Montreal, Canada.

In answer to a suggestion by Counsel whether Dr Anane was abusing his office when he took part in the Montreal meeting, witness replied in the negative.

The Panel adjourned proceedings for one month, with the next sitting slated for Friday, July 7 when Counsel on both sides would present their oral submissions. 8 June 06