The Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Mr. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, his two deputies and a private businessman have pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption before the High Court in Tamale.

Stephen Yir-eru Engmen in Charge of Operations, Mr. Patrick Seidu, the Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration) and Mr. Andrew Kuundaari, the Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited together with the NDA CEO have been granted bail in the sum of GHȼ2 million each with three sureties each.

The accused are also expected to deposit their passports with the registry of the court and to justify the bail condition by providing documents covering landed properties worth five hundred thousand Ghana cedis.

The trial Judge, Justice Eric Ankomah Ansah adjourned the case to February 28, 2023.

The four accused are standing trial for conspiracy to directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract.

The accused, individually face various additional charges relating to the outcome of an investigation by the OSP into a complaint of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences against the NDA and A&QS Consortium Limited operating from Wa in the Upper West Region.

The Special Prosecutor on January 24 charged the four persons with alleged corruption.