QGT: No Special Relationship Between Me And Ms Cotton - Ibrahim Adam

THE first accused person in the Quality Grain case, Mr. Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, yesterday categorically denied under cross-examination that he has had a social relations with Mrs. J. R. Woodard (Nee Cotton), the boss of Quality Grain Company.

Mr. Adam, who was answering questions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Osafo Sampong, at the Fast Track Court, said that his dealings with Ms. Cotton were basically in the interest of Ghana and a matter of routine.

Asked whether he had assisted Ms. Cotton to acquire a visa from the Ghana Mission in the United States of America, Mr. Ibrahim Adam replied that he had never assisted Ms. Cotton to get a visa to Ghana, but added however, that had Ms. Cotton asked him to assist her to acquire a visa he would have helped her.

Minutes after the accused had denied ever assisting Ms. Cotton to acquire the visa, the DPP pulled out a document, which was signed by the accused person, asking the Ghana Mission in the US to give Ms. Cotton a multiple visa. Mr. Ibrahim Adam, who identified his own signature, agreed that he signed the fax message dated June 29, 1995.

The prosecution, therefore, tendered in the document in the court presided over by Justice Kwame Afreh.

Mr. Adam agreed with the prosecution that he had attended the wedding of Ms. Cotton in Atlanta and that it was the Quality Grain Company which bought the plane ticket for him to attend the wedding.

He told the court that he had attended the wedding in Atlanta, because it was a cost- effective opportunity for him, because he had wanted to visit Atlanta due to a special relationship between Atlanta and Tamale, and as a Member of Parliament (MP) he wanted to visit Atlanta for a proposed investment forum.

The accused person said he was, therefore, acting in the interest of his constituency.

Questioned by the DPP, whether the accused person and former President Rawlings had flown with Ms. Cotton in a helicopter over the Aveyime area, Ibrahim Adam responded that he flew an aircraft with the former President, Ms. Cotton and other people.

DPP - You flew over Aveyime?

Adam - We flew over the Accra Plains.

DPP - Is Aveyime on the Accra Plains?

Adam - It covers parts of the Accra Plains.

Counsel, for Mr. Ibrahim Adam, Samuel Cudjoe, had concluded his evidence-in-chief and the other defense counsel had also briefly cross-examined the accused.