BNI chief testifies against Asabee and others
Evidence received by the Fast Track Court (FTC), hearing a case of alleged impropriety leveled against the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng and eight others, in the renovation works on some offices at the Information Ministry indicate that the contract was not placed on tender.
Giving his evidence-in-chief before the court, presided over by Justice Charles Quist yesterday, Mr. Godfred Agyepong, Head of Audit at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) noted that even though the contract did not go through tender procedure, invoices where issued by three companies out of which two were found to be non-existent companies.
According to the witness, who was part of a-three-man investigative team from the BNI that probed the issue, Zuleika Asamoah-Boateng, wife of the former Minister of Information and National Orientation used 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 accused persons include Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Zuleika Asamoah-Boateng, 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, attempt 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.
Expatiating on his evidence, Mr. Agyepong, who has 24 years experience with the BNI, told the court that he was handed a contract document from the Ministry of Information in June 2009, and was further asked by his superior to investigate it.
According to the witness, he called up Mr. Dominic A. Y. Sampong, a former Acting Chief Director at the Ministry, who confirmed signing the contract letter, adding that Sampong had informed him that he had rendered an apology on the issue when it came up during management meeting and that he thought the issue was closed.
Witness further indicated that he had informed Sampong of the pendency of the issue, which had been referred to him to investigate, as he demanded all documents pertaining to the award of the contract.
However, Mr. Agyepong indicated that Sampong referred him to Kwabena Denkyira, a former Deputy Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry, as the person responsible for the documents.
Witness noted that Denkyira, during his interrogations, when he brought photocopies of the original contract documents, indicated that the contract was neither published nor placed on tender, although invoices were issued from Adom Enterprise, Home Works Ghana and Flexiform Ventures.
Additionally, the witness noted that checks conducted at the Registrar General's Department revealed that Adom Enterprise and Home Works Ghana do not exist on the Department's records and calls made to the numbers on the invoices could not go through.
Witness told the court that Kofi Asamoah-Boateng, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry informed him that the two non-existent companies were produced to legitimize the transaction.
Further revelations, witness noted, were that the invoices from the three companies were received by Kofi Asamoah Boateng at the Ministry of Information, through the Secretary to the then Minister of Information, Stephen Asamoah Boateng.
The investigator also noted that the probe of the investigating team revealed that Flexiform Ventures belonged to Irene Lorwia, a sister of the wife of the Minister, Zuleika Asamoah Boateng, but when contacted, she denied ever applying for any contract.
Witness told the court that investigations revealed that Zuleika Asamoah Boateng used her sister's company, which is a sole proprietorship entity, with no tax clearance number, Social Security contributions and other requirements to take contracts from the Ministry, to apply for the contract.
According to him, Zuleika Asamoah Boateng sent the documents through Yasmin Domua, a Manageress, being the bills of tiling of the Ministry with the same wording but different contract sums, with the contract sum quoted by Flexiform Ventures being the lowest of GH¢86,915.85.
Witness then noted that the inclusion of the two non-existent companies confirmed the point made by Kofi Asamoah Boateng that it was done to legitimize the transaction, adding that it was also done so that the lowest contract cost supplied by Flexiform Ventures would be selected.
Sitting was adjourned to February 28, 2011, for continuation of evidence.