SSNIT OBS Trial: One Freed, Ernest Thompson, 3 Others to Open Defence.

Accra: Juliet Hassana Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of Perfect Business System, who was held in the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Operational Business Suites (OBS) trial, has been acquitted and discharged from all her charges. Ms Kramer was freed by an Accra High Court's ruling in a submission of no case put in by her lawyers. The Chief Executive Officer of Perfect Business System (PBS) was freed on charges of willfully causing financial loss, conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.According to Ghana News Agency, the court presided over by Justice Henry Kwofie, a Supreme Court Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, ordered four other accused persons to open their defence because a prima facie case has been established against them. The four accused who are to open their defense are Ernest Thompson, former Director General of SSNIT, John Hagan Mensah, a former IT Manager at SSNIT, Caleb Kwaku Afaglo, former Head of Management Information System (MIS), and Peter Hayibor, Counsel for SSNIT.They are required to open their defence in respect of specific charges. Ernest Thompson and John Hagan Mensah were ordered to open their defence regarding some counts of conspiracy to commit crime and willfully causing financial loss to the state. However, the court freed Thompson on nine counts of conspiracy to commit crime, willfully causing financial loss, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act. Afaglo was also directed to open his defence on charges including defrauding by false pretences, possession of forged documents, and uttering forged documents. In the case of Peter Hayibor, he was ordered to open his defence in respect of willfully causing financial loss to the State and conspiracy to commit crime.The prosecution, led by Mrs Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), called 10 witnesses to establish a prima facie case against them. However, the defence counsel of the accused filed a submission of no case. The accused denied the various charges and were admitted to bail. They were brought to court for the alleged roles they played in the $66 million SSNIT OBS project, which was intended to revamp SSNIT operations through Information and Communications Technology. Afaglo is alleged to have secured his employment at SSNIT with fake certificates. The matter has been adjourned to December 19, 2024.