Nineteen new criminal charges have been slapped against former National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme, now Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Abuga Pele and the CEO of Goodwill International Group (GIG), Philip Akpene Assibit.

The new charges replace the previous 19 charges leveled against the two gentlemen.

The first accused, Mr. Assibit, has been slapped with eleven out of the new charges.

They include defrauding by false pretences and dishonestly causing financial loss to public property.

All the eleven charges are in connection with hefty amounts. Mr. Assibit pleaded not guilty to all the charges in Court on Tuesday.

The second accused, Mr. Pele, who is also the Member of Parliament for Chiana Paga, is now contending with 8 new charges.

They include intentionally misapplying state resources by authorising payments to Goodwill International Group, as well as willfully causing financial loss to the state.

He also pleaded not guilty to all 8 charges.