Eric Amankwaah Jnr., a Schedule Officer at Ghana’s Ministry of Finance has testified before the High Court in Accra, providing insight into the payment processes associated with the controversial Saglemi Housing Project.
The project, originally budgeted at $200 million, has faced scrutiny, amid allegations of financial impropriety.
Mr. Amankwaah, who is the second prosecution witness (A2), defended his actions, emphasizing adherence to established financial protocols.
During his cross-examination led by Godwin Kudzo Edudzi Tamakloe, counsel for former Works and Housing Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Mr. Amankwaah explained that all payment requests he processed were compliant with the Escrow Management Agreement (EMA), particularly clauses 2.6 and 2.7, which guide financial disbursements.
He clarified that his role did not include conducting a professional assessment of the work, rather he ensured that payments were validated in line with the EMA provisions.
When asked about the certification process, Mr. Amankwaah confirmed that responsibility for certifying completed work rested solely with the project consultant, Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), not with the Ministry of Finance or himself as Schedule Officer.
He asserted that no payment was processed unless supported by certified documentation from the Ministry of Works and Housing, validating work done by the contractor.
PW2 acknowledged that an advance payment of US$80 million, equivalent to 40% of the contract amount, was issued to the contractor, Construtora OAS, when late E.T. Mensah was the Minister for the sector.
He reiterated that every payment processed was in compliance with clauses 2.6 and 2.7 of the EMA, underscoring his diligence and commitment to protocol.
The witness could not state emphatically whether the police investigators took his statement as an ordinary statement or a caution statement.
Further questioning by Reindolf Twumasi Ankrah, counsel for Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing, delved into Mr. Amankwaah’s personal observations of the project site.
He confirmed witnessing completed work, including multi-story buildings, road networks, and drainage systems, during visits, though he clarified that these visits were not comprehensive site inspections.
Addressing allegations of misallocated funds, Mr. Amankwaah stated that all validated payments to Construtora OAS amounted to US$179.9 million, as indicated in his witness statement, though he could not recall precise figures for specific periods.
He also confirmed that certain payment requests bore signatures from Major (Rtd) M.S. Tara and Mr. Patrick Nomo, officials authorised to sign on behalf of the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Amankwaah reaffirmed that he had never been queried by ministry officials regarding his payment processing role.
