Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, has pleaded not guilty to new corruption charges filed against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

This development occurred after the OSP dropped the charge of misusing public office for personal profit against Adjenim Boateng and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin.

During a court session on Monday, April 22, Principal Prosecutor Adelaide Obiri Wood stated that the OSP had decided not to pursue the case against the second accused after conducting additional investigations.

“We have since filed a fresh charge sheet with only the first accused (Adjenim Boateng Adjei), a copy of which was brought to your attention at the last sitting (Thursday).

“Respectfully, under the circumstances and the reasons given, we humbly pray to withdraw this present case before this honourable court to enable us to commence with the new case,” the Principal Prosecutor said.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had initially charged the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) with eight counts of using public office for personal profit and indirectly influencing procurement processes to gain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts.

The charge sheet was filed by the Special Prosecutor at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra on April 17.

However, the former PPA boss pleaded not guilty to all eight fresh counts.

Subsequently, the court, presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, after taking the plea of the accused, admitted him to bail in the sum of GHȼ4 million. He is to produce two sureties, both of whom are to be justified with landed properties.

The Court also instructed the Registrar to verify the authenticity of documents with relevant authorities, and the sureties are to provide copies of their Ghana Cards to the Registrar.