Tamale High Court convicts former NDA boss Sumaila Abdul-Rahman and three others over IPEP procurement breaches

A High Court in Tamale has handed down convictions to four individuals, including former Northern Development Authority (NDA) Chief Executive Officer Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, following a high-profile prosecution led by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). 

The legal battle centered on procurement irregularities tied to contracts awarded under the government's flagship Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). While the court cleared the defendants of direct corruption charges, it found them guilty on multiple counts of procurement breaches and conspiracy to influence procurement processes for unfair advantage.

According to a formal statement issued by the OSP on Friday, October 23, 2026, the convicts comprise former NDA CEO Sumaila Abdul-Rahman; former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen; former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration, Patrick Seidu; and Andrew Kuundaari, Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited.

The criminal proceedings originated from investigative inquiries launched after legal practitioner Martin Kpebu lodged a formal complaint regarding questionable contract awards within the agency.

Despite securing convictions on counts spanning conspiracy, influencing procurement processes, and corruption-related infractions, the presiding judge opted against handing down custodial prison sentences. In delivering the verdict, the court noted several compelling mitigating factors. Notably, the OSP’s proactive intervention had successfully blocked payouts,ensuring that the state suffered zero financial loss. Additionally, the advanced age of two of the key defendants heavily influenced the court's leniency.

Instead of jail time, each convict was penalized with 1,000 penalty units for every count on which they were found guilty,with the financial penalties slated to run concurrently.

Under the specific breakdown of the sentencing: 

A1 (Sumaila Abdul-Rahman): Fined 1,000 penalty units each on counts one and two, facing a four-year hard labor default sentence per count if unpaid.

A2 (Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen): Fined 1,000 penalty units across counts one, four, five, and six, carrying concurrent four-year default terms.

A3 (Patrick Seidu): Penalized 1,000 units on counts one and eight, with matching four-year default imprisonment terms.

The default prison terms across the board have been structured to run concurrently. 

The OSP hailed the verdict as a vital step toward institutional accountability, reiterating its unwavering commitment to safeguarding public sector funds and prosecuting corporate and administrative malfeasance across Ghana.