The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, has entered a plea of not guilty to new corruption charges leveled against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP withdrew the charge of misusing public office for personal gain against Adjei and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin. Principal Prosecutor Adelaide Obiri Wood informed the court on Monday, April 22, that after further investigations, they decided not to proceed with the case against the second accused.
“We have filed a new charge sheet against only the first accused (Adjenim Boateng Adjei), a copy of which was presented to you during the last hearing,” stated the Principal Prosecutor. “Therefore, respectfully, considering the circumstances and reasons provided, we request to withdraw the current case before this honorable court to allow us to proceed with the new case.”
Initially, the OSP had accused the former PPA CEO of eight counts of using public office for personal gain and indirectly influencing procurement processes to gain an unfair advantage in awarding contracts. Adjei pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.
Following his plea, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, presiding over the court, granted him bail in the amount of GHȼ4 million. Adjei is required to provide two sureties, both with justified landed properties. The court also instructed the Registrar to verify the authenticity of documents with relevant authorities, and the sureties must submit copies of their Ghana Cards to the Registrar.
