Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the first accused in the Quality Grain trial, on yesterday said sometime in 1994, Ms Juliet R Woodard, Chief Executive of Quality Grain Company contacted him that she wanted to invest in rice production in the country.

He said the lady showed him a letter that was written by an American rice company introducing her to any interested country as an expert in rice cultivation.

Adam was opening his defence in a case in which he is charged with conspiring with four others to wilfully cause financial loss of 21 million dollars to the state.

Led by his leading counsel, Mr Samuel Codjoe, accused said besides the introductory letter about Ms Woodard, an American business delegation visited the country and mentioned her as a potential rice farmer.

Adam said he was convinced by the testimony so he and the Chief Director at the Ministry held several meetings with her and directed her to the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) where she could seek advice on the project.

He said he also advised her to register the company with the Registrar-General's Department as the law on foreign investors required.

The other accused persons are Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey and Nana Ato Dadzie, all former senior public officers.

They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss to the state.

Each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.

Adam said he showed interest and helped Ms Woodard to establish the project in order to make the country self-sufficient in rice production instead of spending large sums of money to import rice.

The accused said sometime in 1995 the Ministry held a workshop in Cape Coast for all stakeholders in agriculture and a report, aimed at enhancing food production was prepared and accepted by the government.

Adam tendered the report in evidence and said it stressed the need for the government to offer financial help and guarantee loans for both foreign and local investors in agriculture.

Accused said based on the report, it became a government policy to implement the recommendations.

He said the assistance he offered to Ms Woodard, therefore, was based on official policy of the government.