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Editorial News of Saturday, 7 July 2001

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Selormey in another ?2.8 billion deal

The Dispatch says its in-depth investigations have revealed that former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Victor Selormey and Mr Dan Abodakpi, the former Minister of Trade are to be charged for transferring a total of US $400,000 (about ?2.8 billion) to Dr Fred Owusu-Boadu of College Station, Texas and also LEEBDA fame.

The payments were for a feasibility study into the establishment of Science and Technology Valley to supposedly promote public-private sector partnerships for economic growth in Ghana. The snag is that there is no record of the contract or the study at the Ministry of Trade and Industry or the Gateway Secretariat. The last transfer of US $300,000 (about ?2.1 billion) was transferred a day after the December, 2000 run-off.

The cover sheet of the document purporting to be a contract between the Ministry of Trade and Dr Boadu indicated a submission of a proposal to create a science and technology community to promote economic growth in Ghana. The document, said to be a contract between the Ministry of Trade and Dr Boadu, was signed by both the Minister of Trade, Mr Abodakpi and Dr Dr Boadu.

Surprisingly, there was no witness in the high magnitude contract with legal officers of the Ministry of Trade and the Attorney- General's Department kept in the dark.