GYEEDA TRIAL ADJOURNED AGAIN

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, July 4, 2014

The much-touted trial of the former National Coordinator of National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and Philip Akpeena Assibit could not be heard yesterday because the trial judge was said to be attending a training programme.

The case had been fixed for July 3 to be continued the next day but due to Justice Afia Asare-Botwe’s absence, the prosecution and defence teams agreed on 21^st and 22^nd July as the next adjourned dates.

It was the fourth time the trial of the former coordinator of the NYEP, now known as Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) was adjourned.

Accused persons

Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Chiana-Paga, Abuga Pele and Philip Akpeena Assibit, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goodwill International Group (GIG) are standing trial for the various roles they played, which the Attorney General’s Department said caused huge financial loss to the state.

Until last year, Abuga Pele was the National Coordinator of National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), now the GYEEDA.

He is accused of wilfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢3,330,568.53 while Assibit is being tried for defrauding the state of an amount equivalent to $1,948,626.68.

The two have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail.

Charges                                               

The NDC MP is facing six counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state under Section 179A (3) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, two counts of abetment under Sections 20(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and one count of intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD) 140.

Mr. Assibit, who is the first accused person on the other hand, is facing six counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal and Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and five counts of dishonestly causing loss to public property contrary to Section 2(1) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD) 140.