Republic V Adjenim Boateng: Accused lawyers continue cross-examination of Manesseh

Lawyers for the former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, continued their cross-examination of the first witness Manasseh Azure Awuni today Friday, March 10.

The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, 15 March 2023 for the continuation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor said in a tweet.

The trial of the former Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei started on Tuesday, November 29 with the Special Prosecutor calling on its first witness, Manasseh Azure Awuni.

The OSP charged him with 8 counts of using public office for profit and and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts.

Similarly, Francis Kwaku Arhen, the brother-in-law of Adjenim Boateng Adjei, has been charged with one count for using public office for profit.

“The two persons will be arraigned before the High Court (Criminal Division) Accra on Wednesday 25 May 2022,” the Office of the Special Prosecutor said in a statement on Wednesday, May 18.

It is recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a letter dated Friday, October 30, 2020 terminated Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei’s appointment.

The decision followed the submission of a report to President Akufo-Addo by the Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ) on a conflict of interest investigation initiated against Mr Adjei.

A report issued by the CHRAJ noted that Mr Boateng Adjei was unable to explain the volumes of cash that passed through his bank account with the Stanbic Bank after his appointment.

It emanated from investigative work by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni over some contracts sanctioned by the Authority.

The CHRAJ report had concluded that Mr Adjei had put himself in a position where his personal interests conflicted with the performance of his functions as CEO and board member of PPA.

Portions of the report said: “The respondent (Mr Adjei) opened a USD Account at the Stanbic Bank on 03 April 2017 after his appointment as CEO of PPA. As of August 2-019 a total of  USD516225 has been credited to the account and his debits stood at USD504607.87

“When confronted with the evidence of the sheer volume of cash that passed through his accounts the Respondent indicated that Frosty Ice Mineral Water Litd does not have a bank account and that proceeds from the sales of the water is lodged in his account. Frosty Ice Mineral water Ltd is the company the Respondent owns with us wife, Mercy Adjei. He also claimed that he received money from other family businesses but could not name the family businesses.”

A release issued by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, announcement the termination of his appointment said on Friday “Having satisfied himself of the fact that the recommendation made by CHRAJ is properly motivated and well-founded, the President has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Mr Joseph Whittal and CHRAJ for the thorough and methodical manner in which the matter has been addressed.”

Aspects of the investigative work relating to potential acts of corruption were referred to the Office of Special Prosecutor for action. The Prosecutor is yet to come out with his report.

Source: 3news.com