Juaben MCE nominee bribery case, first witness gives evidence

A Kumasi high court has adjourned the alleged bribery case, involving Mr Alexander Sarfo Kantanka, former nominee for the position of Chief Executive for the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region.

The case was adjourned after the first prosecution witness, Mr Simon Akwasi Agyei, assembly member for Esaase electoral area, mounted the box and was cross-examined by counsel for the accused person, Mr Denis Osei Antwi.

The court presided by Justice Priscilla Odikro Ofori adjourned the case to October 27, this year for the trial to continue.

Mr Kantanka was alleged to have paid monies to some assembly members to influence them to confirm his nomination by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

However, after the assembly members voted against his nomination, he was alleged to have openly called the assembly members to demand the refund of the monies.

Some of the affected assembly members reported his conduct to the Office of the Special Prosecutor and after investigations he was charged and brought before the court.

Mr Amadu Emmanuel Basintale, who represented the Office of the Special Prosecutor, told journalists after the proceedings at the court that the prosecution intended to call five witnesses for the trial.

They would include three assembly members, a police officer and an officer from the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Mr Basintale said the prosecution also pleaded with the court to fix the trial for a week to help reduce the risk and cost of travelling from Accra to Kumasi for the trials.

Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka has been charged with 26 counts of corruption.

The charges are in respect of a public election – arising out of two public elections conducted in September and November 2021 for the confirmation or otherwise of his nomination.