In a dramatic turn of events, the High Court in Accra has acquitted and discharged Ernest Thompson, former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and two others of allegations related to causing financial loss in the $66 million SSNIT OBS project.
This decision follows the Attorney General’s notice to withdraw charges on February 7, 2025 in another case of clearing former NDC appointee.
Since his return power, President Mahama’s Attorney General, Dominic Ayine had been clearing all former NDC appointees standing for trial over alleged corrupt practices.
According to the court, “On the 7th of February, 2025, the Attorney General filed a Notice of Withdrawal of all offences against the 1st, 2nd, and 5th accused persons under Section 59 (1), (2), (b) (i) and (5) of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act, 1960.”
The court further stated that “the effect of this position, having regard to the fact that the prosecution has closed its case, is that by Section 59 (2), (b), (i), the accused persons ought to be acquitted in respect of the offences for which they are charged”.
The three acquitted individuals are Ernest Thompson, former Director-General of SSNIT; John Hagan Mensah, former IT Manager at SSNIT; and Peter Hayibor, former General Manager and General Counsel of SSNIT.
They join Juliet Hassana Kramer, the CEO of Perfect Business Systems (PBS), who was previously set free by the Court during the submission of no case.
The SSNIT OBS project aimed at revamping SSNIT’s operations through Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
However, the project’s contract sum ballooned from $34 million to $66 million, and the system failed to perform efficiently.
The Prosecution alleged that Thompson, Kramer, and Afaglo caused SSNIT to pay additional money for items already covered by the contract.
Meanwhile, the 4th accused person, Caleb Kwaku Afaglo, a former Head of Management Information Systems, has submitted a request for Plea Bargaining.
He is facing seven counts, which include defrauding by false pretense and three counts each of possession of forged documents and uttering forged documents.
Defence lawyer George Bernard Shaw stated “The defense has commenced Plea Bargaining negotiations with the Attorney General.”
The case has been adjourned to May 8, 2025.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
