By Beatrice Oppong
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has withdrawn the charges against Francis Kwaku Arhin who was charged together with former CEO of the Public Procurement Authority Adjenim Boateng Adjei.
The two were put before the Accra High Court for procurement breaches.
A Principal Attorney at the Office of the Special Prosecutor Adelaide Kobiri Woode informed the Court that as a result of further investigation, the prosecution does not intend to proceed with the case against Mr Arhin. She said the OSP has also filed fresh charges against Mr Adjei which will be heard by a different Court.
Therefore, she prayed the court presided by Justice Mary Yanzuh to withdraw the trial before it to enable the OSP to begin the case at the newly assigned Court. Lawyer for Mr Adjei, Kwame Agyeampo Boateng expressed disappointment with the new twist to the case which began in May 2022. He said the defence was hoping that the trial would be expedited after cross-examination of the star witness Manasseh Awuni Azure.
The former PPA Boss was previously charged with eight counts of Using Public Office for Profit and another nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract.
His brother-in law Mr Arhin was also facing one count of using public office for profit.
