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The 18th prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial of Dr. Samura Kanara and four others, Dr. Alie Kabba has told the court that, all Foreign Affairs Ministers had no hands in any financial matters, adding that all financial matters relating to the New York Chancery building were directed to the Director General of the ministry.
Dr. Kabba further testified that during the investigation, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) didn’t confront him with any allegation of criminal conduct in respect of the manner in which the building was constructed.
The witness was asked whether he knew anything about the building before he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, but he replied that he didn’t know anything about the building project.
Be further stated when President Bio was sworn in, he was the substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs and that a Memo was presented to him from New York by the then Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said the Memo informed him that the contractor was threatening to take the mission to court for lack of payment.
He said that was the first time he knew about the project and that he made a strong case to the president and the then Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, to save the image of the country.
He said despite the constraints, the president told him that they should do anything to protect the image of the country.
He continues that the Chancery building was part of his bilateral engagement partners to secure external support.
Dr. Kabba disclosed that $2 million was disbursed for the Chancery building project, but that the money was paid in two installments.
He said he only received the payment of the first installment, which went to the third party for onward transmission to New York based on the requisition provided by New York.
