GYEEDA trial: Humado discredits tracer studies

Mr Clement Kofi Humado, former Minister of Youth and Sports, told the Financial Division of the High Court that the tracer studies conducted by the consortium for the establishment of Youth Enterprise Development Programmes, was disqualified.

He said he was informed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) that the tracer studies conducted was plagiarised.

Mr Humado was answering questions through cross-examined by Raymond Bagnabu, the counsel for Philip Akpeena Assibit in the GH¢ 4.1 million GYEEDA trial in Accra on Thursday.

Abuga Pele, former National Co-ordinator and Assibit, a Representative from Goodwill International Ghana are facing various charges for causing financial loss of GH¢ 41.1 million to the state.

The state has accused Assibit of putting in false claims that he had secured a $65-million World Bank funding for the creation of one million jobs for the youth. The claim led government to part with GH¢ 4.1 million.

Pele is also alleged to have entered into a contract with Assibit to engage in activities which have injured the state financially.

They both pleaded not guilty to all charges and are on bail.

The counsel for the Assibit, pointed to Mr Humado that the tracer studies, he referred to as been disqualified was actually tended in court but the witness said it was the claim of EOCO and they would be in the best position to explain.

When asked whether the National Youth Employment Programme was an agency under the Ministry, the witness said yes but explained that it operated separately and that the organisation was not properly constituted and had no legal framework.

“We asked them to make their operations known to us,” he said.

Mr Bagnabu suggested to the Witness that, he had failed the nation by not doing due diligence before monies were paid but the then Sector Minister denied the statement saying the agency refused to comply with instruction.

The case is adjourned to Oct 10.