‘We have every evidence to prosecute former PPA CEO, brother-in-law for procurement breaches’

‘We have every evidence to prosecute former PPA CEO, brother-in-law for procurement breaches’ – Kissi Agyebeng

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, says his outfit has enough evidence to proceed with the prosecution case against former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin.

“I have my firm conviction that we have every evidence to see the accused prosecuted on procurement breaches. The accused persons are the former Chief Executive of the PPA and his brother-in-law,” he told the media on Wednesday.

According to him, the accused persons can be punished for corruption because the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has a strong case to effectively ensure they are prosecuted.

He added that the OSP will strive to ensure that corruption is reduced in the country.

“Their pleas were taken. They pleaded not guilty, and the court has given directions as to how the trial will proceed; so, in a month’s time, we’ll be back to comply with the court proceedings,” Mr Agyebeng said.

The Special Prosecutor argued that he has developed ample strategies to fight corruption and will go after all public officials and persons who engage in the act.

He said claims suggesting he has abandoned corruption-related cases involving ‘big’ politicians are false, so far as he is concerned.

‘We have every evidence to prosecute former PPA CEO, brother-in-law for procurement breaches’ – Kissi Agyebeng — Former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Agyenim Boateng Adjei

“…unless you don’t want to see because the Public Procurement Authority is the spirit of the nation when it comes to procurement in the public sector, and if you call the Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority a ‘small fish’, then there is no ‘big fish’ in the country.

“And in any case, corruption is corruption; it is not about how large the fish is, and as I said during my vetting, I am going to make corruption very costly,” he noted.

This comes after the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court granted the two suspects a bail sum of GH¢5 million with 2 sureties each.

Mr Agyenim Boateng has also been ordered to deposit his passport with the Court until the final determination of the case.

The case has been adjourned to June 28, 2022.

Background

The Office of the Special Prosecutor had earlier levelled fresh charges against the former PPA boss.

A.B Adjei has been charged with eight counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract.

A statement issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor to announce these charges noted that the brother-in-law of Adjenim Boateng, Francis Kwaku Arhin, has also been charged with one count of using public office for profit.

The statement added that “the two persons will be arraigned before the High Court (Criminal Division), Accra on Wednesday, 25 May, 2022.”

Meanwhile, new information emerging indicates that the dismissed Public Procurement Authority (PPA) boss has allegedly withdrawn all funds from his frozen bank accounts.

This flies in the face of a court order not to release cash from the account to Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei.

Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, whose investigative piece exposed Mr. Adjei’s underhand dealings, told JoyNews last week that he has received information about this new development.