"Facilities granted to the QG was not unusual"

Dr Samuel Kojo Dapaah, second accused in the Quality Grain trial, on Thursday told the Fast Track Court (FTC) that facilities granted to the Quality Grain Company to establish a rice project at Aveyime in the Volta Region was similar to what was given to other agricultural projects.

He said the approach, which the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) adopted to get Cabinet approval before the government guaranteed loans by the Exim Bank in the United States (US) to the company was similar to what was given to the Weija Aquaculture Project and Dogbe Grain Project.

Dr Dapaah was opening his defence in a case in which he and four others are charged with conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss to the state by causing the government to guarantee loans to the company without parliamentary approval.

Led by Miss Ama Dankwa, his junior counsel, Dr Dapaah, former Chief Director of MOFA, said it could, therefore, not be said that the role he played in the company's activities was unofficial.

The accused, an agricultural economist, spent greater part of his evidence-in-chief to give details of his academic qualifications and honours he obtained in Canada between 1974 and 1982 when he returned to Ghana.

He said he took up teaching appointment with the University of Ghana, Legon, from where he was seconded to MOFA in 1986 to the early part of last year.

Dr Dapaah said for the period he served at MOFA, he found that it was not possible for the ministry to enter into financial agreement with any foreign investor without the knowledge and consent of the Finance Ministry.

Those on trial are, Ibrahim Adam, former MOFA Minister, Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, Dr George Yankey and Nana Ato Dadzzie, all former senior public officers.

They have all pleaded not guilty and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.

Hearing continues on Tuesday, January 15.