In the aftermath of the one year and eleven months trial, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, have been discharged by the High Court in Accra.The discharge comes after Principal Prosecutor Adelaide Obiri Wood from the Office of the Special Prosecutor notified the court of her intention to withdraw the case.

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The case involved 18 counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to gain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract against the two defendants.During proceedings presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh on April 22, the prosecutor announced the withdrawal, stating that fresh charges had been filed at a different court. She clarified that Mr.

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Arhin would not be prosecuted in the new case.The former PPA CEO is anticipated to enter his plea later in the day on the new charges, which include eight counts of using public office for profit and indirectly influencing procurement processes to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts.Adjei served as the CEO of PPA from March 2017 to August 2019.

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He was dismissed from his position by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following a recommendation from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) after being featured in a video documentary titled “Contract for Sale.”The withdrawn charges were filed in May 2022.

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Before his discharge, the prosecution's key witness, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, underwent cross-examination by lawyers representing the accused.Kwame Acheampong Boateng, the former PPA CEO’s lawyer, expressed disappointment at the decision made by the Special Prosecutor.

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