Sources close to both the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Attorney General’s Department have confirmed that Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister in charge of NEPAD, has been cleared from wrongdoing in the Free Zones Board scandal, which was investigated by the SFO.

Credible sources revealed that the SFO has completed its investigations in the alleged scandal in which some present and former officials of the Free Zones Board are alleged to have misapplied some ?3 billion belonging to the Board without proper authorization.

Initial reports in the media linked the former Trade Minister to the scandal, even though he ordered investigations into the allegations. Among other things, it was alleged that office equipment purchased with Free Zones Board funds were diverted to the private offices of Dr Apraku.

But the Free Press newspaper quotes its sources, as saying that investigations conducted by the SFO proved that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Dr Apraku.

Portions of the report however recommended the prosecution of two others (name withheld) for their roles in the scandal.