KEY POINTS
- The court acquitted former SSNIT Director-General Ernest Thompson.
- Caleb Kwaku Afaglo remains on trial for using forged certificates.
- Afaglo has initiated plea bargain talks with the Attorney-General.
Former SSNIT Director-General Ernest Thompson has been acquitted and discharged, along with two other former Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) officials, in a case involving a $15.3 million financial loss to the state.
The High Court in Accra dismissed all charges against Thompson, former IT Manager John Hagan Mensah, and SSNIT Counsel Peter Hayibor after the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice withdrew the case.
Justice Henry Kwofie ruled in favor of the acquittal under Section 59 (2)(b)(ii) of Act 30, following the prosecution’s request for dismissal under Section 29 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
This decision ends a long-running legal battle that accused the former SSNIT officials of mismanaging funds meant for the SSNIT Operational Business Suite (OBS) project. However, one key figure remains on trial.
Afaglo still faces trial for falsified credentials
While Thompson and his co-accused are now free, Caleb Kwaku Afaglo, the former Head of Management Information Systems (MIS) at SSNIT, remains on trial.
According to Graphic Online, Afaglo is accused of securing employment at SSNIT using fake academic certificates. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including:
- Defrauding by pretense
- Possession of forged documents
- Uttering forged documents
These charges fall under Section 169 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Prosecutors argue that Afaglo’s falsified credentials enabled him to hold a top management position at SSNIT, contributing to financial mismanagement within the institution.
Afaglo seeks plea bargain with Attorney-General
During the latest court hearing, Afaglo’s lawyer, George Bernard Shaw, informed the court that his client had begun plea bargaining negotiations with the Attorney-General’s office.
Plea bargaining is a legal process where an accused person pleads guilty in exchange for a reduced charge or lighter sentence.
Shaw explained that Afaglo was previously seeking to subpoena three witnesses—Dr. James Moss (Georgia Institute of Technology), Dr. Julian Malveaux (Bennett College), and Professor Derrick Lloyd—but faced challenges obtaining their testimonies.
“As a result, we have advised our client to explore avenues open to him in the defense of this matter,” Shaw told the court.
Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Adinkra confirmed that the prosecution has received Afaglo’s formal request for plea negotiations. The court has adjourned the case until May 8, 2025, to allow both parties to finalize discussions.
As Afaglo awaits his fate, legal analysts say his plea deal could result in a lesser sentence, but it remains unclear whether prosecutors will agree to reduced charges.
