Joe Ghartey, Ghana’s second deputy speaker of parliament, has told the Accra Fast Track High Court that when he was attorney general, he only advised the government on the agreement signed in 2008 by Vodafone International, Ghana Telecom and the government.
HumanIPO reported last week Ghartey had failed to appear at the court for the second time, but he has finally given his of events, since the court action was brought by six members of the Convention People’s Party who are arguing the sale of the government’s 70 per cent stake in Ghana Telecom did not follow the correct processes and must be annulled.
Ghartey said: “The A-G (attorney general) gives advice to government on legal issues.”
He said while advising, his department worked together with lawyers of Vodafone in coming out with the final draft of the agreement.
According to Ghartey, the role of the attorney general in international agreements is limited to advising sector ministries, following which any further action would be taken to the parliament for approval.
“In the purchase agreement there was no infringement of any law before it went to parliament, indicating that the Divestiture Implementation Committee does not apply to all divestitures in the country,” he said.
Bright Akwetey, counsel for the plaintiffs, argued the Divestiture Implementation Committee Law and the National Communication Authority law were breached in the purchase agreement.
He added the former attorney general did not know about the agreement as suggested by the typographical error in the spelling of Kumasi with an ‘e’ at the end, suggesting the agreement was drafted outside of Ghana.
The Justice Gertrude Torkornu-led court has adjourned the case until July 8 when cross examination of the witness is expected to continue.
