The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reignited its legal pursuit of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, over alleged procurement irregularities and corruption-related offences.

Adjei, who was dismissed from office in 2020 following an explosive investigative documentary, is now facing eight counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of influencing procurement processes to secure undue advantage in the award of government contracts.

The Special Prosecutor’s office resumed proceedings on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, after fresh charges were refiled earlier this year.

Background: The “Contract for Sale” Scandal

The controversy surrounding Adjenim Boateng Adjei dates back to August 2019, when an undercover investigation titled “Contract for Sale”, produced by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and aired by the Multimedia Group, exposed alleged instances of conflict of interest at the PPA.

The exposé revealed that a company linked to Adjei had been winning government contracts through the PPA and later selling them to other contractors for profit.

The revelations prompted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to suspend Adjei and refer the matter to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the OSP for investigation.

CHRAJ subsequently found Adjei guilty of conflict of interest and abuse of office, leading to his dismissal in October 2020.

OSP’s First Attempt and Withdrawal of Charges

Following CHRAJ’s findings, the OSP, then under Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, filed criminal charges in 2022, accusing Adjei of using his office for personal gain and manipulating procurement processes.

The charges also extended to his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, who was accused of benefiting from Adjei’s alleged misconduct.

After nearly two years of trial, the OSP surprisingly withdrew the initial case in April 2024, citing procedural adjustments and the decision to file fresh charges.

Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, who presided over the case, struck it out following the prosecutor’s notice of withdrawal.

However, the OSP indicated that new evidence had emerged, necessitating a stronger, more comprehensive legal approach.

Fresh Charges and New Developments

In the renewed case, the OSP alleges that Adjei continued to benefit from public office even after his suspension, with investigations revealing suspicious withdrawals from previously frozen accounts in 2022.

These financial activities reportedly reignited prosecutorial interest, leading to the current round of charges.

Prosecutors also allege that Adjei’s conduct violated key provisions of the Public Procurement Act (Act 663), which mandates transparency and fairness in government contracting.

His brother-in-law, Arhin, is also facing one count of using public office for profit.

The Special Prosecutor’s office has emphasized its determination to secure a conviction, describing the case as a critical test of the anti-corruption framework and the nation’s ability to hold public officials accountable regardless of status.

Lawyers for Adjei have, however, criticized the OSP for what they describe as a “trial by repetition,” insisting that their client has been unfairly targeted despite the lack of conclusive evidence in earlier proceedings.

Looking Ahead

The trial, which resumes this week, is expected to feature new evidence and testimonies, including fresh financial records and documentation from the PPA’s procurement archives.

The OSP has reassured the public of a transparent and professional process, vowing to “pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.”