Colonel Dr Kwadwo Damoah, Member of Parliament for Jaman South, has appeared before an Accra High Court, where he and seven others are standing trial over charges connected to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contract scandal.

At the previous sitting, Col Damoah was absent when five of the accused persons appeared with their lawyers.

The eight accused persons face 78 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, directly influencing procurement, and entering into an agreement with financial commitments binding the government for more than one financial year without prior parliamentary approval.

Col Damoah pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties.

The court directed him to deposit his travel documents at the registry, while the sureties were ordered to submit copies of their Ghana Cards.

He has also been placed on the Ghana Immigration Service Stop List at all entry and exit points and is required to report to the lead investigator at the Office of the Special Prosecutor once a week.

Col Damoah is standing trial with Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori‑Atta, former Minister of Finance; Ernest Darko Akoree, Chef du Cabinet to Ofori‑Atta; Emmanuel Kofi Nti, former Commissioner‑General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA); and Ammishaddai Owusu‑Amoah, former Commissioner‑General of the GRA.

The others are Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division; and Evans Adusei, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML); and SML.

The accused persons are before the court over their alleged roles in the GH¢1.4 billion SML contract scandal.

All the accused persons, except Messrs Ofori‑Atta and Akoree, were present in court.

The court adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026.

The prosecution was ordered to file disclosures and witness statements and serve them on the accused persons at least two clear days before the next hearing.

The accused persons present were also directed to file the names and addresses of witnesses they may call should they be required to open their defence, as well as any witness statements.