Mr. Alfed Agbesi Woyome on Monday told the Accra High Court hearing his case that he paid 500,000 US dollars into the GNPC account at Prudential Bank to finance the initial projects of CAN 2008. He said the payment was done by the orders of then Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim.
He told the court presided over by His Lordship John Ajet-Nassam that he pre-financed activities of then Local Organizing Committee of the CAN 2008 chaired by O.B Amoah.
Mr. Woyome added he was responsible for soliciting for funds to construct the necessary infrastructure needed at that time to rebrand Ghana as a sports tourist destination ahead of the CAN 2008 tournament.
According to Mr. Woyome, two letters were written by Mr. O.B Amoah and then Deputy Finance Minister, Agyemang Manu to the Department of Commerce in the United States to confirm how instrumental and genuine he, Mr. Woyome was in Ghana’s bid to host the CAN 2008 tournament.
He further revealed how he pre-financed the feasibility studies, environmental impact assessment and architectural drawings of facilities needed for the CAN 2008 tournament.
Mr. Woyome said he contracted a foreign company called PMP Legacy Company in England to develop feasibility studies for the entire projects of CAN 2008.
He explained that funding arrangements for the CAN 2008 were expected to be sourced from some barrels of oil which he convinced Libyan government to support Ghana with as plans were afoot to host the CAN 2008 tournament.
He regretted that the Libyan deal was later abrogated by the Kufour administration under the watch of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie who was at that time Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.
Asked about what he did for CAN 2008 which begun in 2005, Mr. Woyome said he funded the Local Organizing Committee activities.
He implied that he was also responsible for the bidding processes and by extension solicited for funds to execute the needed infrastructure to rebrand Ghana as a sports tourism destination ahead of the tournament.
He stated, “creating a sports legacy for Ghana and seeking a redefinition of sports as a tool for development in Ghana was agreed upon by me and the Kufour government.”
Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah was in court to support her legal team as the state prosecutor, Matthew Amponsah is determined to refund the monies paid to Mr. Woyome as judgment debt.
His Lordship Justice Ajet-Nassam adjourned the case to May 19, 2014 and accordingly instructed the accused lead counsel, Lawyer Sarfo Boabeng to always guide his client to be on point in his submissions.
By; Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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