OSP drops 17 charges against former PPA boss, discontinues case against Francis Arhin

The Special Prosecutor has modified charges against the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, withdrawing the initial 17 charges and filing eight new ones.

This adjustment also entails dropping all charges against his brother-in-law, Francis Arhin.

The eight charges leveled against Adjei center around allegations of exploiting public office for personal gain and exerting indirect influence on procurement processes to secure unfair advantages in contract awards.

This alteration in charges marks a notable shift from the original 17 charges, highlighting the prosecution’s evolving stance in the case. The decision follows extensive cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness, Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, spanning over a year.

The case stems from allegations raised in August 2019 when Manasseh Azure Awuni’s documentary, ‘Contract for Sale,’ allegedly implicated Adjei in abusing his authority at the PPA to favour Talent Discovery Limited in contract allocations. Adjei’s brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, initially faced charges related to his alleged association with Talent Discovery Limited but has since been cleared of all accusations.

Adjei, who served as the CEO of PPA from March 2017 to August 2019, faced dismissal from office by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following the release of the documentary. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recommended his removal from office based on the findings presented in the documentary, ‘Contract for Sale.’

Source: Dailymailgh