In most cases, individuals are obligated to use their passports when travelling to foreign countries, with some exceptions for citizens of certain nations, such as US and UK citizens traveling to specific territories.
For instance, US citizens can travel to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands without a passport, while UK citizens can visit Ireland with a valid photo ID.
Despite the general requirement for Ghanaians to possess passports for travel to South Africa, former Minister for Works and Housing, Collins Dauda, is currently facing legal consequences.
He is accused of traveling outside Ghana without obtaining the necessary court permission, as court authorization and the release of Mr. Dauda’s passport are mandatory for any international travel he intends to undertake.
Currently facing prosecution for financial loss to the state in the Saglemi Housing Project, Dauda needed court approval and the release of his passport to travel.
Reportedly, the presiding High Court justice, Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, expressed shock upon learning that the Member of Parliament for Asutifi had travelled to South Africa without his passport, which was in the court’s custody.
The revelation came during an explanation by Dauda’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, about his client’s absence from proceedings on November 20, 2023.
Sory informed the court that Dauda had an emergency invitation for a pan-African conference in South Africa as part of his parliamentary duties, leading to his absence from November 20 to November 24, 2023.
While arrangements were initiated to retrieve Dauda’s passport from the court, he had already travelled before the court’s decision on the application filed on November 17, 2023.
The prosecution, represented by Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Office of the Attorney General, expressed surprise at Dauda’s ability to travel without his passport.
She emphasised that this action was concerning, as part of his bail conditions required notifying the court before travelling outside the jurisdiction.
In the midst of this development, the state finally commenced its case against Dauda and his co-accused after several months of witness unavailability.
The prosecution’s first witness, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing, presented his witness statement, which the court adopted despite objections from the defence.
The case was adjourned to Tuesday, November 21, 2023, for the witness to read his statement.
Background:
Alhaji Collins Dauda, Kweku Agyeman Mensah, and three others have faced court charges related to the Saglemi Affordable Housing project, with a total of 52 counts, including causing financial loss to the state.
The charges involve intentional misapplication of public property, causing financial loss, and issuing false certificates in the $200 million Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.
Pleading not guilty to all 52 charges, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Kweku Agyeman Mensah, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Andrew Clocanas, and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo are now navigating the legal proceedings.
Alhaji Collins Dauda was granted self-recognizance bail, while Kweku Agyeman Mensah and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu received bail in the amounts of $65 million each.
They were also required to produce three sureties, with one being a public officer.
Andrew Clocanas, the fourth accused, was admitted to bail with a sum of $179 million and three sureties, including a public servant. Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, the fifth accused, secured bail in the amount of $13 million and three sureties.