NCA Trial: Attorney General Engaged in Witness Manipulation

 Kwame Essuman Aidoo

The trial of former officials of the NCA which started over two years ago is losing its usual space on front pages of many newspapers even before prosecution winds down on its submission of evidence against the five accused persons who have all pleaded not guilty.

Many well-meaning Ghanaians are however questioning whether this trial has not been more politics than law as the twice a week hearing has lasted two years.

The ‘conviction by all means’ tactics being used by the Attorney has brought more pressure on prosecution lawyers as their star witnesses Abena Asafu Adjei, Director Legal of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Henry Kandoh, both officials of NCA have contradicted themselves as witnesses over the Authority’s knowledge of the transaction….

Sources at the Attorney General’s Department say the Director of Public Prosecutions Ms. Yvonne Obuobisa has more reasons than one to win this case by at all cost.

Ms. Obuobisa needs to win this case to please her boss the Attorney General in an internal rivalry between her and Ms. Evelyn Keelson (a relative of the Senior Minister Osarfo Marfo).

Ms Keelson is said to be leading the onslaught to prove her mettle as a better replacement as Director of Public Prosecution.

The five-accused persons, namely William Tetteh Tevie, a former Director-General of the NCA; Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, a former Board Chairman of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw, a former board member; Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator, and a businessman, George Derek Oppong are being tried over the purchase of a cyber security system by the National Communications Authority for the National security Council.

Next hearing is slated for 14th March, 2019 before Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor.