FINDINGS FROM an investigation conducted by the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), on the $400,000 feasibility report of the science and technology park/valley, currently before the Fast Track Court indicate that the report was not worth its price.

A prosecution witness, Mr. T.K. Abubakari Bibilazo, acting director at MDPI, yesterday told the court, presided over by Justice Stephen Farkye, an Appeal Court judge, sitting as an additional high court judge that the project could not pass for a feasibility report because it lacks essential features.

According to the witness, a feasibility report is slightly different from a proposal, adding that the former determines the viability of the project while the latter does not.

Mr. Bibilazo told the court that the findings, which were made by a three-member committee from his outfit, suggested that the project, if given to a local consultant, would cost $75,000 but on the contrary, if the project were given to a foreign consultant, it would cost $150,000, taking into account air tickets and hotel accommodations among others.

Dan Abodapki, former minister of Trade and Industry and Victor Selormey, former deputy minister of Finance, are being held liable for authorizing the payment of the cedi equivalent of $400,000 from the Trade and Investment Project (TIP) interest account meant for the export of non-traditional goods.

The amount was due for feasibility studies for the construction of a science and technology park/valley and was paid into the personal account of Dr. Frederick Owusu Boadu, a consultant.

The witness told the court that his outfit is an institution owned by government and carries out management development research in both private and public entities.

Mr. Bibilazo said MDPI was on May 30, 2001, requested by the police investigations task force of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) through a letter to conduct an examination in respect of the feasibility report produced on the science and technology park/valley, taking into account the cost involved and the viability of the project