MCE Continues Testimony At GYEEDA Trial

Mr Nuru Hamidan, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asokore Mampong, has told the Financial Court hearing the GYEEDA trial that as a former Deputy National Coordinator he was aware of the launch of the exit plan for the NYEP. He, however, stated that he was not privy to the people who attended the launch of the programme on August 2010. Mr Hamidan made the statement when Mr Raymond Bagnabu, Counsel for Philip Akpeena Assibit, Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group (GIG) continued with his cross examination of the witness. Abuga Pele, former National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) and Philip Akpeena Assibit, Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group (GIG) are standing trial for criminal related offences. The two accused persons have been charged with 19 counts of causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretence, abetting crime, intentionally misapplying public property and dishonestly causing loss to public property. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court admitted Pele to self- recognisance bail, while Assibit was granted bail in the sum of GH� 2 million with four sureties, two to be justified. Mr Hamidan denied claims by Mr Bagnabu that the former regime which they took over from had an exit plan for the NYEP. He said since he was not at the launch he could not confirm the statement by Mr Bagnabu that Mr Clement Humado, former Minister for Youth and Sports and Mr Elvis Afriyie, former Deputy Minister for Local Government who represented then Vice President, John Mahama that a well structured programme for the NYEP has been put in place. He also denied being a member of the Steering Committee set up to look into issues relating to the Youth in Entrepreneurship Programme. Mr Carl Adongo, who stood in for Mr Thaddeus Sory, Counsel for Abuga Pele during cross examination questioned the witness about his relationship with his former boss which he (Hamidan) said was a good working relationship. Mr Hamidan stated that he witnessed the signing of the MOU between Goodwill International Group (GIG) and GYEEDA because at the time he was the Deputy National Coordinator in-Charge of Operations. The court adjourned sitting to March 20, 2014.