The acquittal and discharge of businessman Alfred Woyome in the GHC51 million judgment debt case has drawn massive criticism against the state prosecutors, but the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice has indicated it will appeal.
[contextly_sidebar id=”YXtyGZINgwDxO5aGlppE3E9redvIWASR”]The Attorney General and Minister for Justice Marietta Brew-Appiah Oppong told graphiconline.com that “We disagree completely with the judgment of the court.”
“We are applying for a copy of the judgement, study it carefully and appeal accordingly,” Mrs Appiah-Opong added.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Ajet-Nasam questioned why the prosecution failed to present key witnesses – Betty Mould-Iddrisu and Ebo Barton Oduro – who were Attorney General and deputy respectively when the judgment debt was paid.
The Executive Director of anti-graft agency the Ghana integrity initiative Vitus Azeem has advocated the state prosecution should be charged for causing financial loss to the state.
“If the state hires people and pays them to defend the state and unfortunately they are not able to defend the state maybe causing financial loss to the state charge should go to the state officials and not Woyome,” he said.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings who was also not so enthused by the turn of events said: “The extent of corruption I have been talking about . I just read that the thief called Woyome had been freed. Why because his accomplices [Betty Mould and one other person] who were in government were not produced in court for vital evidence to incriminate him.”
Click on audio to listen Marieta Brew Oppong
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By: Nana Boakye-Yiadom/citifmonline.com/Ghana