Accra, Jan 26, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday struck a contempt application against Dr Paul Acquah, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, over the payment of GH¢700,000 to Rockshell International, a company involved in the construction of the Keta Sea Defence project.

The Company had filed an ex-parte motion demanding the payment of the money, saying although the High Court had on January 9, this year, ordered the Bank of Ghana to make payment into a Contingency Operational Account number 0121360058002 to Rockshell, this had not been done. But at Monday's sitting, counsel for Rockshell, Mr Alfred Dzakpasu, told the court that he had made his clients aware of what had been raised in the affidavit in opposition filed by the Governor. He said the Governor was made aware of the dispute on January 9, 2009 adding that the order of the court came to his notice on January 14, when he received documents for payment.

The Governor sought permission from the court to be absent. Lawyers for the Governor said the harm had already been done, adding that if Rockshell's counsel had conducted a search, they would not have initiated the action. They asked for GH¢5,000 cost against Rockshell.

The court, after listening to both sides, struck out the application as withdrawn and awarded cost of GH¢3,000 against Rockshell, which said the money was due it in 1996, following the execution of work in respect of the Keta Sea Defence project. On November 20, 2006, Rockshell obtained judgment against the Attorney General and Bank of Ghana at an Accra High Court for payment of the outstanding GH¢700,000. But the government failed to pay the money, prompting Rockshell to initiate proceedings against the BOG.