Decision Day for former Deputy Minister of Finance

A fast track court in Accra will today decide the fate of Mr. Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister of Finance. He has been facing trial for most of this year for alleged financial malfeasance against the state.

The case has run the full gamut of Ghana's legal system all the way to the Supreme Court.

His trial was on "six counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing financial losses to the state."

Mr. Selormey is supposed to have, in conspiracy with one Dr. Fredrick Owusu-Boadu, living in the US, fraudulently caused the loss of US$1,297,500 to the state. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The fast track court would decide whether to accept the accused plea or not this morning and that could decide whether the former Deputy Minister would spend Christmas at home with his family or elsewhere.

Ghanaian courts take their contempt powers seriously, so a speculation as to the likely outcome is not possible. The comments can only come after the judgement. In another trial involving former ministers, a fast track court last week acquitted Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, former Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

This is in connection with what the media have described as the "Quality Grain Scandal".

The other accused who still have a case to answer are Mr. Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the same ministry, Mr Kwame Peprah, former Minister of Finance, Mr. George Yankey former Director of the Legal Sector of the Ministry of Finance and Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff at the Osu Castle. They are in court to answer charges on how the state lost US$20 million. They have all pleaded not guilty.