An Accra High Court has taken the plea of the sixth accused person in the ongoing corruption trial involving former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and seven other individuals.
The six accused persons who are:
Member of Parliament for Jaman South and former Commissioner-General of Customs, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), standing trial in The Republic v Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and seven others, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.
The Office of Special Prosecutor provided an update in which it disclosed that at the last adjourned date, the accused was absent.
According to the OSP, the court declined to issue a bench warrant on the grounds that he was performing parliamentary duties and could not be served.
He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of GH₵50 million with two sureties, each to be justified.
The court ordered A6 to deposit his travelling passport and all other travel documents at the court registry. The sureties are also required to deposit copies of their Ghana Cards with the registry.
In addition, the lawmaker is to be placed on the Immigration Service stop list at all entry and exit points and is required to report once a week to the lead investigator at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP added that the court further directed the prosecution to file and serve its witness statements and all documents requiring disclosure on the accused persons at least two clear days before the scheduled Case Management Conference (CMC) on 29 January 2026.
Meanwhile, the accused persons three to eight (A3–A8) were ordered to file the names and addresses of witnesses they intend to rely on, should they be called upon to open their defence, at least two clear days before the CMC.
They may also file their respective witness statements and any documents they intend to rely on within the same timeframe.
The prosecution also informed the court that steps are being taken through Mutual Legal Assistance to secure the appearance of the first and second accused persons, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and Ernest Darko Akore, to stand trial.
The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2026 for a Case Management Conference.
