Principal Accountant continues testifying in Asabee's case

Accra, May 6, GNA - Mr Lawrence F. Dzakpa, Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Information (MOI), on Thursday narrated to an Accra Fast Track High Court how he was summoned to various places for non-payment of renovations undertaken at the Ministry.

Witness said he was invited to the former Controller and Accountant General (CAG), Mr Christine T. Soti's office as well as the Treasury Department of CAG, the Ministry's Internal Auditor.

Mr Dzapka said in his explanation to the various calls, reasons for the non-payment were that the projects lacked the necessary supporting documents for payment to be effected.

Witness was continuing his evidence in the case involving Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, his wife, Zulieka Jennifer Lorwia and six other public officers charged with conspiracy to defraud the State.

Also in court is a non-legal entity firm, Supreme Procurement Agencies Limited.

The accused person are alleged to have conspired to defraud the State of GH¢ 86,915.85 in renovation works undertaken at the Ministerial Block of the Ministry during Asamoah-Boateng's tenure of office.

Other accused persons are Frank Agyekum, former Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dominic A. Sampong, former Acting Chief Director, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Kwabena Denkyira, former Director of Finance and Administration of the Ministry, Prosper Arku of the non-legal entity firm, and Yasmine Domua, a businesswoman.

They have all pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist.

The court has admitted them to GH¢10,000 bail each with a surety.

Mr Dzakpa said his refusal was also due to the fact that the documents from Phelixicom ventures allegedly owned by Zuleika were also not signed.

This, he noted, caused an embarrassment to the Ministry of Information, the contractor and staff of the Ministry because they did not understand why he (witness) acted that way.

Witness said a meeting was therefore convened by Sampong, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry and he (Sampong) introduced Zuleika as the Managing Director of Phelixcom Ventures.

He said after the meeting, Sampong appealed to him (witness) to release the money from the Ministry's sub Consolidated Fund into its HIPC Account to hedge it from being returned to government's chest.

According to the witness, he told Sampong and Denkyira the next day that his compliance to that directive constituted an offence.

Not quite long, witness said they received a secular from the in-coming National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government to halt all payments for projects.

This witness said he adhered to.
The case was adjourned to Thursday, May 20, 2010.
GNA