Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman, on Wednesday told the Fast Track High Court that his contract with the government was approved by the Ministry of Finance.
The Supreme Court, on July 29, 2014, ordered Woyome to refund GH¢51.2 million to the state on the grounds that he got the money out of unconstitutional and invalid contracts between the state and Waterville Holdings Limited in 2006 for the construction of stadia for CAN 2008.
But Woyome told the Court the Attorney General’s Department approved the payment because the Ministry of Finance approved the contract.
[contextly_sidebar id=”EbIKc8ABFz07jHqMy5SOfkzq7V2TWz9y”] Mr Woyome was being cross-examined by Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Chief State Attorney in Accra when he made the revelation.
He said the A-G’s recommendations were based on the advice of the Ministries of Finance and Youth and Sports, two consultants and additional documentation.
He said the Ministry of Finance never opposed the recommendation of the A-G but rather, wrote back to seek clarifications on mode of payment and parties involved.
When asked the cost he incurred through the process, the accused said he never made claims about construction cost but rather a professional fee for financial engineering.
Prosecution also accused him of making a false representation to the A-G that VAMED and Waterville that were awarded the contract to build stadia for the CAN 2008 but Mr Woyome denied this, saying a concurrent approval was made by the central tendering board, which could be taken as an award of contract.
The state prosecutor said in Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo’s evidence he said he never communicated to him that he won the bid but the accused said handing over a document amounts to communication.
He said Mr Osafo-Maafo through his own memo to cabinet, warned them on the legality of their action.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice John Ajet-Nasam adjourned the case to November 10.
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Source: GNA