GREL Divestiture case takes long break

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA - The Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) Divestiture case in which four persons are standing trial for their alleged involvement in corruption during the company's privatisation, was on Tuesday adjourned to October 16.

The long adjournment was due to the Legal Vacation of the Judiciary, which ends in mid-October.

A clerk of the court announced the date after a meeting in chambers between Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, trial judge, and counsel on both sides.

The four accused persons in the case are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement; Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Ralph Casely-Hayford, Businessman and Sati Dorcas Ocran, Housewife. They are accused of having influenced the Board of GREL to give the bid for GREL to a French company.

They have all pleaded not guilty to their various charges, and each of them is on a self-cognisance bail.

The Prosecution closed its case after calling 10 witnesses. At the last adjourned date, defence counsel declared their intentions to make submissions of "no case" against their clients.

From October 16, therefore, the court would hear those submissions, to be followed by a response from the Prosecution after which it would give its ruling on the matter.

Mr Johnny Quarshie-Idun and Mr David Lamptey are defending Ayittey jointly, while Mr J. E. Senoo is counsel for Agbodo. Casely-Hayford and Ocran have Mr Rodney Heward-Mills and Mr Tony Lithur as the counsels, respectively.

Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions, is representing the State.