UK Corruption Case Has Serious Implications for the NDC Govt

Presiding Judge Rivlin at the Crown Court number 1 at Southwark, UK A large number of the public, press and representatives from the Ghana High Commission attended the trial this morning. It was a packed courtroom with 16 legal representatives including officials from the Serious Fraud Office in attendance. We were informed that it was a preliminary hearing. 10 charges had been filed against Mabey and Johnson. The matter had been transferred from Westminster Magistrates Court following a hearing on 10 July 2009.

Mabey and Johnson entered a plea of guilty to Charges 1, 5 and 9 (out of the 10 charges) For our purposes the relevant charge is Charge 1 details of which are as follows:

First Charge relating to Ghana bribes

"Between the 1st day of January 1994 and 18th day of August 1999, conspired with certain of its directors, executives, employees and agents to give or agree to give corrupt payments contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 to Ministers, officials and other agents of the Government of Ghana as inducements to secure, or as rewards for having secured contracts from the Government of Ghana, known as "Priority Bridge Programme 1", Priority Bridge Programme 2" and "Feeder Roads Projects" for the supply of goods to the said Government of Ghana by Mabey and Johnson Limited. Contrary to Section 1 of Criminal Law Act 1977

The case is informed by the Serious Fraud Office of the UK. Date of next hearing: Friday 25 September at 10 am.