Audio By Carbonatix
George Derrick Oppong the fifth accused in the National Communication Authority (NCA) trial on Tuesday said due to the non-availability of customs clearance processes, Infralock Development Limited (IDL) was unable to make further payments to NSO, Â the Israeli firm which sold the Pegasus equipment to the country.
According to Oppong, NSO has therefore sent demand of payment notices to IDL and has also drawn the attention of the IDL’s breach of the contract with NSO.
Oppong was continuing his evidence in chief at an Accra High Court trying him and four others for allegedly causing financial loss to the state following the purchase of a Pegasus machine for the National Security in the year 2016 which could not function.
The fifth accused who is the Managing Director of IDL said he also received some e-mails from NSO representatives over the non-payment of the rest of the money.
He, therefore, tendered the e-mails IDL received from NSO following the non-payment of the rest of the monies to NSO.
According to the fifth accused, NSO was to receive the second payment of $ 3 million dollars after the shipment of the equipment.
The Prosecution led by Ms. Sefakor Batse challenged the defense counsel for Oppong for tendering in the alleged email notices without filing them earlier in court.
According to prosecution, defence counsel should have filed the e-mails and other documents for the prosecution to have foreknowledge of them before being tendered.
The trial judge, Mr. Justice Eric Yei Baffour, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge indicated that he had earlier on informed the defence to file documents they intended tendering in court but they failed to do so.
Oppong explained that NSO had Barclays Bank as their bankers and NCA was to make payment of the Pegasus equipment through it.
According to the accused, before NSO could deploy the shipment of the equipment NCA was also to satisfy some pre-conditions.
He said these pre-conditions was for the accused to obtain a Customs Clearance Process, an End User Responsibility, an On -site Infrastructure Readiness, End User Vendor Responsibility.
Oppong said although IDL was the reseller of the equipment, NCA was to ensure its clearance, provide logistics and the deployment of the equipment when it finally arrived in Ghana.
In furtherance of this, Oppong said, Mr. Henry Kanoe, the fourth prosecution witness and a Technical Director of NCA was assigned to ensure the deployment of the machine.
Oppong is standing trial with Eugene Baffoe Bonnie, former Board Chairman of NCA, William T. Tevie, former Director-General NCA, Nana Owusu Ensaw, a former Board member, Alhaji Salifu Mimina, former National Security Coordinator.
The accused have been charged with stealing, using public office for personal gain, willfully causing financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of a cyber-security equipment worth four million dollars.
They have all denied the offences and have been granted bail.
The trial continues on Thursday, March 5.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Wa West Agric Director calls for stronger gov’t support after difficult farming year
2 minutes -
‘Agriculture isn’t only for village folks’ — President Mahama pushes professionals to take up farming
4 minutes -
82-year-old man emerges overall National Best farmer for 2025
20 minutes -
Calls grow for stronger oversight as free trade and lax regulation fuel fake medicines
40 minutes -
World Cup 2026: Tuchel keeps group stage opponents under wraps, shuns Ghana
55 minutes -
Volta Region received a significant share of Big Push road projects – Mahama
59 minutes -
Togbe Afede XIV lauds government’s $10bn ‘big push’ programme for boosting farm produce transport
2 hours -
FDA urges consumers to prioritise safety when purchasing products during festive season
2 hours -
President Mahama calls for single-digit interest rates on agricultural loans
2 hours -
President Mahama urges Ghanaians in formal jobs to take up farming
3 hours -
Farming interventions paying off, lifting incomes and food security, says Agric minister
3 hours -
Gov’t pledges science-backed interventions in agriculture, says Agric minister
3 hours -
Ghana unveils $3.4bn plan to accelerate national clean energy transition
3 hours -
Interior minister urges security agencies to maximise use of new NSB regional command in Ho
3 hours -
Photos: Ghana celebrates 41st National Farmers’ Day
3 hours
