Lawyer for Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Godwin Edudzie Tamakloe, claims the action brought against his client for allegedly avoiding customs duties and taxes is baseless.
Mahama Ayariga was accused of fraudulently evading customs by paying GH6,062.86 instead of the authorized charges and taxes of GH36,597.15 to pass three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers.
He was also accused of misusing his position as a public officer for personal gain by “selling three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers that were to be utilized for official responsibilities as a Member of Parliament to Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car for GH40,000 each.”
However, on Monday, October 11, 2021, the Special Prosecutor announced that the case against the MP had been dropped since his organization was unable to collect enough evidence to indict him.
Mr. Tamakloe in an interview said that it was not unexpected that the Special Prosecutor could not uncover sufficient evidence against his client, considering that the case was not grounded in law.
“Right from the beginning, since 2018, 2019 when the charges were read in court, he [Mahama Ayariga] had always maintained his innocence… From all indications, there was no basis in law for the case to start. And so what has happened is that good judgment has prevailed over all other things, and we are certainly grateful for that intervention.”
During his first appearance as Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng stated, “We wish to inform the court of the Republic’s intention to enter Nolle prosequi in respect of all cases against the accused persons.”
In the case of the purchase of an ambulance for the Bawku Municipal Assembly, the High Court acquitted and discharged Mahama Ayariga in May 2021.
The court, headed over by Justice Afia Serwaa Botwe, acquitted and discharged them based on a no-case of submission by the accused individuals’ attorneys.
The Special Prosecutor filed two charges against Mr. Ayariga: one concerning the use of a parliamentary loan authorized for the purchase of a V8 vehicle for official use, and the other involving an ambulance purchased for the Bawku Municipal Assembly.
Mr. Ayariga went on trial in the second case with six (6) others: Hajia Hawa Ninchema, Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, Alex Vadze, Alhaji Abdul-Mumuni Jesewunde, Mary Stella Adapesa, and Mumuni Yakubu Nambe.
Read Also: C/Region: NDC suspends Communications Director on claims of incest and defilement
