Ex-Ministers fail to show up for GIA case

Accra, March 30, GNA - The absence of three Former Mininsters of State of erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government on Tuesday occassioned the adjournment to Wednesday of the Ghana International Airlines (GIA) case at an Accra Fast Track High Court.

The three absentees were: Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Former Chief of Staff; Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Former Minister of Transport and Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

The fourth accused, Sammy Crabbe, Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, was, however, in court. The four were to stand trial for allegedly causing financial loss to the State among other charges.

Ms Gertrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney, Prosecuting, told the Court that the accused persons had been informed about the commencement of the trial and wondered why they were absent. "The trial is a serious business; therefore, the accused persons must take it serious", she said.

Ms Aikins made known her intention to pray to the Court to issue bench warrants for their arrest if they failed to appear in Court on the adjourned date - Wednesday 31 March 2010. Mr Kwame Boateng, Counsel for Crabbe, told the Court that the accused persons might not have been informed properly about which court was handling the case.

He said together with his client, they were directed to the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal and other high courts before someone finally told them that the trial would take place at the Fast Track High Court.