Assibit is not a managing consultant-witness

A witness in the GYEEDA case has revealed that Mr Philip Akpeena Assibit had introduced himself as the managing consultant for the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) in a letter he wrote to GYEEDA.

Mr Abuga Pele, the former National Co-ordinator of GYEEDA and Mr Assibit, a representative of Goodwill International Group(GIG), are facing various charges of causing financial loss of 41.1 million Ghana cedis to the state.

Mrs Diana Adu Anane, an investigator with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), told an Accra Fast Track High Court that this came to light when Mr Assibit used the letter-head of MDPI to write a letter to GYEEDA.

She said in the letter, the accused person (Assibit) indicated that the consultant service, he was rendering to GYEEDA was 70 per cent complete, and that, he had pre-financed the services.

The investigator, who was led by Mrs Evelyn Keelson, a Chief State Attorney, said EOCO investigations concluded however that, Assibit was not a managing consultant with MDPI.

She said through their investigation, EOCO spoke to officials of MDPI, including Dr Shaibu Ahmed Gariba, the former Director-General, MDPI, who were all surprised by the accused person’s assertions.

According to the Prosecution witness, Dr Gariba explained that Mr Assibit has never been a managing consultant for the institute.

Commenting on the MDPI letter-head used by the accused, Dr Gariba said the institute had something to do with GIG, for which Assibit was a representative, when they organised a training course in oil and gas.

She said investigations indicated that during the training, the two institutions decided to develop one letter-head to facilitate their correspondence only.

“Investigation also revealed that there was no joint consortium between MDPI and GIG as purported by Assibit,” she added.

She said investigation also revealed that GIG contacted MDPI for an agreement to design a proposal for a GYEEDA project, but that did not materialise.

She said this was because the World Bank did not release funds for the project to commence.

Mrs Adu Anane said investigation also indicated that the Memorandum of Understanding signed between GIG and GYEEDA’s was for a strategic partnership and nothing else.

Meanwhile, the court would rule later on a document which the prosecution wanted to tender but was objected to by counsels for the accused persons

The state has accused Assibit of putting in false claims that he had secured a $65-million World Bank funding for the creation of one million jobs for the youth, which led government to part with GH? 4.1 million.

Pele is also alleged to have entered into a contract with Assibit to engage in activities which have injured the state financially.

They have both pleaded not guilty to all charges and are on bail.

The case has since been adjourned to Wednesday, March 18.