A Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah, has convicted four individuals, including former National Development Authority (NDA) Chief Executive Officer Sumaila Abdul Rahman, for breaching procurement procedures in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The other convicts are Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen, a former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations at the Northern Development Authority; Patrick Seidu, a former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration at the authority; and Andrew Kuundaari, Chief Executive Officer of private firm A&QS Consortium Limited.
The four were found guilty on seven of the 11 counts brought against them on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The court fined each convict 1,000 penalty units for every count on which they were convicted. Failure to pay the fines will attract a four-year prison sentence on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
However, the Tamale High Court acquitted the accused persons of the corruption-related charges while finding them guilty of offences relating to procurement breaches.
Each of the four convicts was fined 1,000 penalty units for every count on which they were convicted, with the fines imposed on each individual to run concurrently.
The court, in delivering its decision, said it had considered the mitigating circumstances presented by the defence lawyers and decided to impose fines instead of immediate prison sentences.
The court explained that the convicts had not benefited financially from their actions, noting that the OSP had intervened promptly to halt the payment and prevent a financial loss to the state.
It also considered the advanced ages of two of the convicts, identified in the proceedings as A1 and A4.
Under the sentence, A1 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and two. Failure to pay the fines will result in four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
A2 received fines of 1,000 penalty units each on counts one, four, five and six. If the fines are not paid, the individual will face four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences running concurrently.
A3 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and eight. Failure to pay will attract four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Similarly, A4 was fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and ten. Non-payment will result in four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each count, with the sentences also running concurrently.
The ruling means the four individuals will avoid immediate imprisonment if they pay their respective fines. Custodial sentences will apply only if they fail to meet the court’s financial penalties.
Meanwhile, the OSP has shared some details following the conviction of accused persons in the Republic v. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman; Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen; Patrick Seidu; and Andrew Kuundaari.
The OSP in an update stated, “On 23 October 2026, a High Court in Tamale convicted Sumaila Abdul-Rahman (former Chief Executive of Northern Development Authority); Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen (former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations of Northern Development Authority); Patrick Seidu (former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration of Northern Development Authority); and Andrew Kuundaari (the Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited, a private entity) of seven out of eleven counts of corruption and corruption-related offences comprising conspiracy to directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, corruption by a public officer, and corruption of a public officer in respect of procurement contracts of Northern Development Authority under the Infrasctructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) of the Government of Ghana.
The prosecution was initiated and conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after it investigations following a complaint filed by a legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu.
The Court declined to impose custodial sentences on the convicts on the ground that the convicts are of advanced age and that the OSP had acted swiftly to prevent unlawful payments under the contract, and so no loss was caused to the Republic. The Court imposed 1,000 penalty units for each count.
The OSP affirms its commitment to protecting the public purse and holding officials in the public sector and their collaborators in the private sector accountable”.
See the post below:
Conviction of Accused Persons in The Republic v. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman; Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen; Patrick Seidu; and Andrew Kuundaari ———————————— On 23 October 2026, a High Court in Tamale convicted Sumaila Abdul-Rahman (former Chief Executive of Northern Development Authority); Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen (former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations of Northern Development Authority); Patrick Seidu (former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration of Northern Development Authority); and Andrew Kuundaari (the Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited, a private entity) of seven out of eleven counts of corruption and corruption-related offences comprising conspiracy to directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, corruption by a public officer, and corruption of a public officer in respect of procurement contracts of Northern Development Authority under the Infrasctructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) of the Government of Ghana. The prosecution was initiated and conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after it investigations following a complaint filed by a legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu. The Court declined to impose custodial sentences on the convicts on the ground that the convicts are of advanced age and that the OSP had acted swiftly to prevent unlawful payments under the contract, and so no loss was caused to the Republic. The Court imposed 1,000 penalty units for each count. The OSP affirms its commitment to protecting the public purse and holding officials in the public sector and their collaborators in the private sector accountable. Office of the Special Prosecutor 23 October 2026
— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) October 23, 2026
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