Special Prosecutor’s witness against Ayariga goes missing

The Accra High Court has been compelled to adjourn the Special Prosecutor’s case against Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, as the whereabouts of the witness is not known.

The Bawku Central MP and six others are in court for allegedly using their office for personal gain.

The Special Prosecutor brought two different cases against the Bawku Central MP.

Mahama Ayariga is being accused of abusing his office as an MP by selling three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers meant to be used by him for his official duties to Kenderick Akwasi Marfo of Atlas-Rent-A-Car at the price of $40,000 each.

In another case, the NDC MP is also before the court together with six others over the purchase of an ambulance for the Bawku Municipal Assembly.

The other suspects in the ambulance case include Hajia Hawa Ninchema, Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, Alex Vadze, Alhaji Abdul-Mumuni Jesewunde, Mary Stellla Adapesa and Mumuni Yakubu Nambe.

The Special Prosecutor said the MP also used his public office for private gain when he got the ambulance branded as his own personal donation to the Bawku Municipal Assembly.

Mahama has denied all the charges and has pointed to a political witch hunt.

When the case was called on Monday, the Special Prosecutor’s witness could not be found to lead evidence in chief.

Counsel for the Special Prosecutor’s office, Micheal Barfi, explained that traveling and accommodations arrangements had been made for the witness to come to Accra.

He mentioned that the team was in constant communication with the witness until Saturday evening when they lost contact.

The lawyers said they would resort to subpoena, thus a writ ordering the witness to attend the court.

In June 2019, the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Botwe struck out 3 out of 4 charges that were brought against the lawmaker.

The charges were fraudulent evasion of customs, duties and taxes, dealing in foreign exchange without a license, and transfer of foreign exchange from Ghana through an authorized dealer.

The Special Prosecutor subsequently filed a substituted charge sheet which was adopted by the court.

The court had reasoned that the charges did not fall within the remit of the mandate of the Special Prosecutor.

The case has been adjourned to October 13, 2020.