Prosecution of Corrupt officials: More to face court soon – Osafo Maafo

Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo says the prosecution of the former National Communication Authority(NCA) officials on Friday is just a tip of the iceberg predicting that more corrupt officials will be prosecuted in the coming days.

“I’m sure you’ve heard in the news the prosecution of the public officials who were dragged to court on Friday. There are more to face court and let me put on record that no public official who has engaged in acts of corruption will go Scot free. We’re only taking time to investigate thoroughly so we can put together a solid case in court. All of them will face the law, at all cost.

He told a gathering during a durbar in Koforidua as the President wrapped up his three-day tour of the Eastern region.

The former boss of the National Communication Authority (NCA) under the Mahama administration Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie and four others have been charged with and arraigned before an Accra Commercial High Court for willfully causing financial loss to the State Contrary to section 23(1) and section 179(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29.

The five persons have also been charged with 16 other charges.

Facts of the Case

Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, former Board Chairman of the NCA; William Tevie, former Chief Executive Officer of the NCA; Alhaji Osman, former Deputy National Security Coordinator, the State believes were aided by a private citizen, George Oppong to engage in the act. According to the State, the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.

A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million. The State said National Security didn’t have the money to fund the transaction, therefore, the NCA which has supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment was asked to fund the project. The officials withdrew $4 million from the accounts of the NCA and paid $1 million into the accounts of the Israeli company. According to the State, the remaining $3 million was lodged in the accounts of George Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd. The entire deal was fronted by Alhaji Osman, the Minister claimed.

The five accused persons pleaded not guilty when their plea was taken after the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo read the facts of the State. Three of the accused persons present in court were granted bail by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour’s court to the tune of 1 million dollars each with 3 sureties and are to surrender their passports to the court Registrar.

The accused persons will reappear in court on Tuesday, 9th January 2018.