'I lost trust in my boss'

By Ivy Benson
A Prosecution's witness, a former Marketing Officer of the Supreme Procurement Agency, who authored an Architect/ Engineers Certificate in respect of renovation works at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in 2008, had indicated that he had lost trust in his boss, for denying the document when he appeared before the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

Mr. Godwin Mawuena Agbesi, yesterday told the Fast Track Court (FTC), presided over by Justice Charles Quist that he had to resign from Supreme Procurement Agency, following the denial of his boss, Prosper Arku, an accused person in the case, of a Surveyor's Certificate that he authorized and guided him to prepare for the Information Ministry.

The witness was responding to questions under cross-examination from Augustines Obour, counsel for one of the accused persons. Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng and eight others, are standing trial over procurement irregularities in respect of renovation works at the Ministry.

Mr. Agbesi further noted that the Surveyor's Certificate he prepared by the instructions of his boss, Prosper Arku, through a telephone conversation portrays lies, emphasizing that as at the time he was following the instructions of his boss, he did not know that he was preparing a forged document. Sitting was adjourned to November 8, this year, for continuation.

Also in the dock is Zuleika Asamoah-Boateng, wife of the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, who was accused of using her sister's company, Flexiform Ventures, and two other non-existent companies, Adom Enterprise and Home Works, Ghana to apply for the contract at the Ministry.

The rest of the accused persons include Kofi Asamoah-Boateng, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Information, Mr. Frank Agyekum, a former Deputy Information Minister, Kwabena Denkyira, a former Deputy Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry, Mr. Dominic A. Y. Sampong, a former acting Chief Director at the ministry, Yasmin Domua, a Manageress, Prosper Arku of Supreme Procurement Agency Limited, and the company as an entity.

They are standing trial over GH¢86,915.85 renovation works done at the Ministry of Information. Sampong is facing six counts of conspiracy, contravention of the Procurement Act, attempt to defraud, altering document, and deceit of public officer, while Agyekum has been charged with conspiracy, contravention of provision, attempting to defraud and deceit of public officer.

Domua, a Manageress and cousin to Zuleika Asamoah Boateng, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime, after which she was granted GH¢10,000 bail with two sureties.

Kofi Asamoah-Boateng faces six counts of forgery of official document, possession of forged document, and forgery and possession of false document, while Denkyira also faces a charge of conspiracy.

Prosper has also been charged with four counts of possessing and forgery of document of architects, engineering certificate, and false tender document.

All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and have all been admitted to bail.