The trial judge in the case involving the former CEO of Ghana@50 anniversary celebrations, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey, and former Chief of Staff in the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Mr. Kwadwo Okyere Mpianim, has withdrawn from sitting on the case for personal reasons. Justice Charles Quist who made his decision known on Wednesday at an Accra High Court explained that when his wife served on the board of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Wereko-Brobby was also working there as the company’s chief executive officer. This, the judge noted, created a family relationship between them, and would therefore like to excuse himself from the case so that the family interest does not influence his judgement. The two ex-officials are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss to the state. They have pleaded not guilty and are on GHC70 million bail. Justice Quist has, consequently, referred the case to the Chief Justice, Georgina Wood, to appoint a new judge to sit on the case, Joy FM’s Yaw Ansu Gyeabuor reports from the court. It is however not clear when another judge would be appointed for the trial to resume. The fact of the case, according to the acting director of state prosecutions, Madam Gertrude Aikins, is that the two ex-officials between May 2006 and December 2008 caused financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢46 million. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana