The High Court in Tamale on Friday, October 23, 2026, convicted former Northern Development Authority (NDA) Chief Executive Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, his two former deputies and a private contractor, and fined each of them 1,000 penalty units per count instead of sending them to prison.
The case was prosecuted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). It centred on consultancy contracts awarded under the government’s Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).
The court spared the four convicts jail time, citing their advanced ages and the OSP’s swift intervention, which it said stopped unlawful payments and meant the state suffered no financial loss, the Ghana News Agency reported.
The verdict closes a trial that began in January 2023, when all four accused pleaded not guilty and were each granted GH¢2 million bail.
Who was convicted in the NDA case
Four people were convicted in the case titled The Republic v Sumaila Abdul-Rahman and 3 Others:
- Sumaila Abdul-Rahman – former Chief Executive, NDA
- Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen – former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, NDA
- Patrick Seidu – former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration, NDA
- Andrew Kuundaari – Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited, a private company
NDA convicts fined instead of jailed
Each convict was fined 1,000 penalty units per count. With one penalty unit currently worth GH¢12, that is GH¢12,000 for each count.
The Ghana News Agency reported that the four were convicted on seven counts of corruption and corruption-related offences. Some other outlets, including Citi Newsroom, reported that the corruption charges failed and only the procurement-breach charges were upheld, so the exact number of counts per person differs across reports.
Adom Online put the total fine at GH¢84,000 per person, which matches 1,000 penalty units on each of seven counts.
How the NDA contract sum allegedly rose to GH¢10.4 million
The OSP’s investigation found that the procurement process was manipulated to favour A&QS Consortium on IPEP consultancy contracts. According to the prosecution, the approved contract sum was raised without proper authorisation.
- Approved contract sum: GH¢5,720,000
- Alleged inflated sum: GH¢10,400,000
- Increase: GH¢4,680,000 (about 82%)
- Charges originally filed: 11 counts
- Bail granted in 2023: GH¢2 million each
Payment on the inflated invoices was stopped during the OSP probe, which the court said prevented any loss to the state.
Timeline of the NDA corruption trial
- June 2022: The OSP opens investigations after a complaint by private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.
- January 2023: The four accused plead not guilty and are granted GH¢2 million bail each.
- April 26, 2024: The High Court rules that the prosecution has made a prima facie case on all 11 counts and orders the accused to open their defence.
- October 2024 to 2025: Defence testimony and cross-examination.
- October 23, 2026: The four are convicted and fined.
The case was one of the trials the OSP listed in its schedule of ongoing prosecutions earlier this year. Read more: Ghana’s OSP Releases Court Dates for 2026 Ongoing Criminal Trials.
What the NDA verdict means for public procurement
The conviction is a notable outcome for the OSP, which was set up to fight corruption in public office. The OSP’s official case file now lists the case as “Accused Persons Convicted and Sentenced”.
The decision to impose fines rather than prison terms is likely to spark public debate. Some Ghanaians may see fines as too light for public officers convicted over state contracts, while others will point to the fact that no money was lost.
For public officials, the case is a reminder that procurement rules under Ghana’s Public Procurement Act are enforced, even where the payments were stopped before money left state accounts.
What happens next
The convicts are expected to pay the fines. Under Ghanaian sentencing practice, a default prison term applies if fines are not paid.
Either side may choose to appeal the judgment. As of Saturday, October 24, no appeal had been publicly announced.
Summary of story
- Court: High Court, Tamale
- Date of judgment: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Prosecutor: Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)
- Convicts: Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen, Patrick Seidu, Andrew Kuundaari
- Sentence: 1,000 penalty units (GH¢12,000) per count; no jail term
- Contract: IPEP consultancy deal allegedly raised from GH¢5.72m to GH¢10.4m
- Reason for no jail: Advanced ages and no financial loss to the state
FAQs
Who is Sumaila Abdul-Rahman?
Sumaila Abdul-Rahman is the former Chief Executive of the Northern Development Authority. He was convicted by the Tamale High Court on October 23, 2026, in a case brought by the OSP.
Why were the NDA officials not jailed?
The court cited the convicts’ advanced ages and the OSP’s quick action, which stopped the payments and meant the state lost no money.
How much were the former NDA officials fined?
Each was fined 1,000 penalty units, or GH¢12,000, per count. Adom Online reported a total of GH¢84,000 per person, based on seven counts.
The Tamale High Court’s verdict ends a case that began with a 2022 complaint over the NDA’s IPEP consultancy contracts. The former NDA chief, his two deputies and the A&QS Consortium boss avoided prison, but each now carries a conviction and fines of GH¢12,000 per count.
