I was forced to resign from GREL - Witness

Accra, July 4, GNA - Mr Kwame Awuah Asante, former Financial Controller of the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), on Friday told an Accra Fast Track Court that he was forced to resign from the company. Mr Asante said he was, however, later recalled to write a report on the withdrawal of certain monies from GREL's accounts that took place during his tenure of office. He was being cross-examined at the court, which is trying four persons for their alleged involvement in corruption practices in connection with the company's divestiture.

The four accused persons on trial are Hanny Sherry Ayittey, treasurer of the 31st December Women's Movement, Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), Ralph Casely-Hayford, a businessman and Sati Dorcas Ocran, a housewife. They allegedly used their positions to influence the DIC board to divest GREL in favour of a French company, Societe Industrielle Plantation Hevea (SIPH). All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to their various charges and the court has granted each of them a self-recognisance bail.

Continuing his evidence under further cross-examination by Mr Tony Lithur, counsel for Ocran, Mr Asante who was recalled to give evidence, told the court that in the course of writing his report, he called for payment vouchers with some information on those withdrawals. Witness, who was recalled at the request of Mr Lithur, said his report dated March 8, 2001 had the title "Unusual Withdrawals of Funds from GREL's Accounts". He said it was submitted to Deloitte and Touche, external auditors of GREL.

Asked by counsel whether he wrote the report under duress, Mr Asante replied in the negative, but added that he wrote it within a short period. At this stage, witness showed counsel a copy of the report, which bore his signature. It was admitted in evidence after witness told the court that he initialled it. Counsel drew witness' attention to withdrawals in respect of Fetteh Aggregates Limited. The witness submitted that he realised that there was an error in the date of the withdrawals, which were made in 1996 instead of 1997 as contained in the report. "I indicated that in my cautioned statement to the police when they picked me up, because I wrote the report before I was arrested." Mr Justice J. C. Amonoo-Monney, an Appeal Court Judge with an additional responsibility on the matter as a High Court Judge, adjourned proceedings to Friday, July 11 for continuation.