Lawyer Sylvester Isang, counsel for four individuals convicted in the Northern Development Authority (NDA) procurement case, says the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) can appeal the ruling if it is dissatisfied with the court’s decision to impose fines instead of immediate imprisonment.
Speaking to Channel One TV after the Tamale High Court delivered its verdict on Friday, October 23, 2026, Isang said the defence team respected the judgment and was prepared to respond if the OSP decided to challenge it.
He described the outcome as favourable to his clients, noting that the court imposed non-custodial sentences. He added that the convicts were arranging to pay their fines in the hope of returning home soon.
Former NDA CEO and Three Others Convicted
The High Court, presided over by Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah, convicted former NDA Chief Executive Officer Sumaila Abdul Rahman, his two deputies, Stephen Yir Aru Engmen and Patrick Seidu, and the Chief Executive Officer of A&Q Consortium for procurement breaches.
The four individuals were prosecuted by the OSP over procurement irregularities involving the authority.
The court imposed fines of 1,000 penalty units on each count for which the individuals were convicted, with the fines for each person ordered to run concurrently.
In explaining its decision, the court said it had considered mitigating factors presented by defence counsel. It also noted that the convicts did not profit from their conduct because the OSP intervened promptly to stop the payment and prevent financial loss to the state. The advanced age of two of the convicts was also taken into consideration.
Four-Year Jail Terms If Fines Remain Unpaid
Although the court opted for fines instead of immediate custodial sentences, it imposed a default sentence of four years’ imprisonment with hard labour for each applicable count if the fines are not paid.
The default prison terms will run concurrently for each convict, meaning imprisonment could follow if the required payments are not made.
The possibility of an appeal by the OSP could bring further legal developments in the high-profile Ghana procurement case. For now, the defence says it respects the court’s decision and is prepared to respond to any challenge.
Source: newsthemegh.com