Valerie Sawyerr Goes To Court....Over Ghana Gas Audit Report

A former Board Member of the Ghana Gas Company, Valerie Sawyerr has gone to court seeking nullification of the Ghana Gas’ Forensic Audit report by government’s Cabinet Committee.

She stated in her writ that, “The Audit Report completed and submitted to the 2nd Respondent was made in breach of the rule of natural justice, audi alteram partem”.

The report - of the Cabinet Committee Responsible for the Coordination of the Investigations/Forensic Audit - which came out a few weeks ago, showed that helicopters purchased from China Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation were never used for the purpose for which they were purchased.

The report also alleges that equipment for the helicopters were never delivered even though they were part of the initial contract price.

These discoveries the Committee alleged, resulted from inflated contract sums, non-performance, non-enforcement and breach of contracts, and caused the State over $60 million dollars in financial loss.

However, Dr. Sawyerr, in a sworn affidavit to the Court, said the report was intent to breach her right after praying the court to annul the report, its findings, observations and recommendations.

A declaration that the Audit Report which implicated me, as a former board member of Ghana National Gas Company Limited, was done in breach of my right to administrative justice and my right to a fair hearing.

“A declaration that the Audit Report which implicated me, as a former board member of the Ghana National Gas Company Limited, contravenes Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution.”

“An order of Certiorari bringing up into this Court for purposes of being quashed and quashing the Audit Report which was completed and submitted to the 2nd Respondent, and which implicated me as a former board member of Ghana National Gas Company Limited,” portion of the writ reads.

She therefore asks the Court to quash the report, its findings, observations and recommendations.

An order of Certiorari bringing up into this Court for purposes of being quashed and quashing the Audit Report which was completed and submitted to the 2nd Respondent, and which implicated me as a former board member of Ghana National Gas Company Limited,” the writ added.

Valerie Sawyerr also wants the court to restrain the security agencies involved in the case to stop inviting her for questioning since to her such invitations are a form of “harassment.”