Two former officials of the Information Ministry are challenging claims by sector minister Zita Okaikwoi that they opposed a contract awarded by her predecessor for the renovation of the ministry. The ministry’s former Acting Chief Director, Mr Dominic Aloysius Yaw Sampong, and its former Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Kwabena Denkyira, said the minister’s assertions were untrue. But at her second appearance in court on Thursday as a prosecution witness, Mrs. Okaikwoi insisted she would provide proof to back her claims. Both Messrs Sampong and Denkyira are being tried along with former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, his wife Zuleika Asamoah Boateng, his former deputy Frank Agyekum and four others. Their trial is in connection with alleged offences committed in respect of the award of an 86,000 dollar contract for the renovation of offices at the Information Ministry last year. Mrs Okaikwoi told the court she was informed by the chief director and the accountant that there were no supporting documents for the contract at the time it was awarded to Plexiform Ventures. She said as a result, the accountant was unwilling to pay last year. She told the court she was surprised when she later learnt of the payment because her approval was not sought. According to her, when the payments were initially refused, documents were forged to back the contract document. Lawyers of the two former officials denied their clients ever opposed the contract. But the Information minister vowed to make an audio recording available to prove her claims. The recording, she said, was done at a management meeting of Information Ministry officials on June 8 this year. When asked by lawyers whether she had made efforts to check from the Finance Ministry if the contract had supporting documents, Zita Okaikwoi said it did not form part of her core responsibilities at the ministry. Rather, she said, she chose to refer the matter to the security agencies. The lawyers accused her of a deliberate ploy to make the former minister look bad. They have also questioned her motive for secretly recording management meetings, saying it has serious implications for working relations between ministers and civil servants. Hearing continues on October 21. Story by Araba Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana