In the ongoing Saglemi Housing project trial, the cross-examination of Eric Amankwah Junior, a Schedule Officer from the Ministry of Finance, continued under the rigorous questioning of Thaddeus Sory, Counsel for the first accused, Collins Dauda.
The cross-examination took place before Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, a Court of Appeal judge, with additional responsibility for the High Court.
The session focused on the intricacies of financial withdrawals and payments related to the Saglemi housing project, which has been marred by allegations of financial mismanagement.
At the heart of the trial are claims of misappropriation, with Collins Dauda, the former Minister of Works and Housing, facing multiple charges, including willfully causing financial loss to the state.
Counsel for the Accused, Mr. Thaddeus Sory, extensively questioned Amankwah on whether payments related to the project were processed in compliance with the Escrow Management Agreement (EMA).
One significant point of contention was whether the payment of US$10,773,849.16 and other sums was done with proper authorisation, as stipulated in Schedule 2 of the EMA.
Mr. Sory highlighted alleged discrepancies between the documents provided in evidence, specifically Exhibit K, which contains the EMA and other key documents, including letters of payment requests that did not explicitly bear the phrase “Notice of Withdrawal” as required.
Mr. Amankwah maintained that while some of the documents lacked the explicit wording, they complied with the substantive requirements of the EMA, including the authorisation of the Ministry of Finance to process payments.
The questioning also touched on specific sums cited in the charge sheet, including payments to contractors and consultants for the project.
Despite Mr. Sory’s persistent claims that the first accused was not an authorised signatory on some key documents and that payments were made without following the correct procedures, PW2 remained firm in his responses, stating that all payments he processed conformed to the terms of the EMA.
During the session, Justice Owusu-Dapaa allowed Counsel for the first accused additional time to complete his cross-examination, noting that while the case completion plan had been generously adjusted to accommodate prior delays, the defense would be granted one final opportunity to conclude.
The judge reminded the court that once Sory’s cross-examination concluded, Counsel for the second accused would begin his questioning immediately.
The trial, which has attracted considerable public attention, revolves around the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, a government initiative intended to address housing shortages.
However, the project has faced numerous challenges, including allegations of inflated costs and failure to complete the promised number of housing units.
The charges against Collins Dauda and other accused individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Finance, stem from these alleged irregularities.
