The Court of Appeal set aside the findings of Sole Commissioner Justice Yaw Apau, citing a breach of the principles of natural justice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”H5uqoHZtRBVoWzzJ9ZP8TvmICuvPtlzH”]According to the court, the Commissioner failed to give Mr. Woyome a fair hearing since it moved beyond examining records of payment of the Judgement debt to assess circumstances leading to the payment.

Mr. Woyome was paid GHc 51 million after he claimed that he helped Ghana to raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

The court’s judgment follows a suit filed by Alfred Woyome in June 2016 where he argued that the Sole Commissioner, Justice Yaw Apau, erred in fact and law in reaching his conclusions about him.

The Sole Commission, headed by Justice Yaw Apau, was set up by former President John Mahama in October 2012 to look into the payment of all judgement debts since 1992, following the various judgement debt scandals that rocked the country.

The Commission submitted its findings to the government in May 2015, and highlighted some breaches in due process in governance systems that led to financial loss to the state.

Among its initial findings included its description as fraudulent monies paid to businessman Alfred Woyome.

Background to Woyome saga

Mr. Woyome had sued the state for a breach of contract relating to the construction of stadia for the 2008 tournament and was awarded the default judgement because the state did not put in a defence.

However, an Auditor General’s report released in 2010 said the amount was paid illegally to Mr.Woyome, who is a known National Democratic Congress financier.

He was subsequently arrested on February 3, 2011 after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which was commissioned by the late President John Atta Mills to investigate the matter, had cited him for wrongdoing.

Mr.Woyome was initially charged with conspiracy, defrauding by false pretence and corrupting a public officer.

He was later re-arraigned and charged with two counts of causing financial loss to the state and defrauding by false pretence.

The interim report of EOCO, which was presented to the President on February 2, 2012, also indicted  Yaw Osafo Maafo, the then-Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and his deputy, Mr. O. B. Amoah.

But Mr Osafo-Maafo secured a court order which declared that EOCO’s investigation of him as illegal.

On June 5, 2012 Mr.Woyome was discharged but re-arrested and charged with two counts of causing financial loss and defrauding by false pretence.

The case unravelled until March 12, 2015, where the Fast Track High Court trying Mr. Woyome, again discharged him.

Delivering his judgment, Justice John Ajet-Nasam, said the State woefully failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Woyome was guilty.

Justice Ajet-Nasam also said there were no contradictions to the documentation evidence on the agreement for compensation claimed by the accused person.

But in 2014, the Supreme Court ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the amount, after former Attorney General and now Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu challenged the legality of the judgment debt paid the businessman.

Following delays in retrieving the money, the Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court’s judgment ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state.

But almost four years later, the amount is yet to be retrieved in full as the Akufo-Addo administration is currently examining the businessman in court.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sole Commissioner’s findings against Woyome ‘thrown out’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Messrs Santa Baron, the company awarded the contract, which is demanding payment, says the previous government awarded a contract to purchase equipment and upgrade the security infrastructure for Ghana.

A report on the project from the Ghana Police Service dated March 2016 indicated that “the National Security Co-ordinator requested details from the Police Administration before sending same to the Interior Ministry for action”.

Yaw Donkor denied knowledge of the contract.

However, the immediate-past National Security Co-ordinator, Yaw Donkor, has told the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, which is investigating the authenticity of the contract, that he had no knowledge of the said contract.

His denial has further heightened questions about the contract because it would have been expected that a contract that is meant to beef up the security infrastructure of Ghana would not be awarded without the knowledge of the then National Security Co-ordinator.

The Finder found out that the former Deputy Minister of the Interior, James Agalga, signed the contract dated August 2016 on behalf of the Government of Ghana.

When The Finder called him on phone, he admitted signing the contract on behalf of government, saying government did not do anything untoward.

He explained that the intended infrastructure was meant to beef up counter-terrorism efforts of Ghana to protect Ghanaians since the threat of terrorism was real as witnessed in neighbouring countries.

According to him, the counter-terrorism unit under the national security apparatus needed the infrastructure to deal with issues of terrorism, which are still relevant today.

When asked whether it is normal that such a contract was signed without the knowledge of the National Security Co-ordinator, Agalga said since the issue was under investigations, he could not comment further.

The Finder can report that the contractor, Messrs Santa Baron, is said to have told government that it has placed orders and the equipment are ready to be shipped to Ghana for the project.

Therefore, the company said if government fails to pay the money anytime soon, it would be forced to go to court to secure judgement debt to offset its expenses on the contract.

For now, the CID and government officials familiar with the matter are tight lipped on the details of the contract, such as the duration to deliver the project and terms of payment.

Also, the kind of equipment the contractor claimed to have purchased and ready to be imported into Ghana have not been disclosed.

–

Source: Elvis Darko/The Finder

The post Gov’t to cough up $279m or risk judgment debt appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Responding to questions during his oral examination in court today [Monday], he further told the court he felt persecuted by the state through these actions given that he had a payment plan agreed with the AG.

[contextly_sidebar id=”myQbagdoLAUrRyRy7Fw7LAV7fjr02PPz”]Mr. Woyome was expected to appear in court on June, 29, 2017, but the embattled businessman initiated some legal moves to block the process.

The court subsequently threw out his applications and ordered that the examination takes place.

Indications from the AG’s office were that, the examination would encompass issues pertaining to whether he owed any debts, whether he has property to satisfy the debt, and the manner in which he used the judgment debt money paid him, among others.

The oral examination is still ongoing and is being led by a Deputy AG, Godfred Dame.

Woyome out of business

Responding to a query pertaining to the kind businesses he is involved in, Mr. Woyome also said he has not been in business since 2012.

According to him, he lost all his businesses after his arrest in 2011 and subsequent trial. He told the court he spent all his time in court to the detriment of his businesses.

When asked about the AAW Management Consulting Services, which was incorporated in 2016, Mr. Woyome told the court that the company, despite being established in 2016, is still not in business.

Background to saga

Mr. Woyome was paid the GHc 51 million after claiming he helped Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for the hosting of the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

However, an Auditor General’s report released in 2010, held that the amount was paid illegally to him.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money, after a former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, challenged the legality of the payments.

Following delays in retrieving the money, Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court’s judgment, ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state.

There had been previous attempts to orally examine Mr. Woyome with Mr. Amidu himself, in 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to examine Alfred Woyome, on how he was going to pay back the money, after the Attorney General’s office under the Mahama Administration, led by the former Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, discontinued a similar application.

In February 2017 however, Mr. Amdu withdrew his suit seeking an oral examination, explaining that the change of government and the assurance by the new Attorney General to retrieve all judgement debts wrongfully paid to individuals, had given him renewed confidence in the system.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AG erred dragging me to court for oral examination – Woyome appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Woyome, who has been asked by the court to refund the money unlawfully paid him, is yet to repay in full.

Gloria Akufo was among 13 minister nominees named by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”94npLUeN5YR3pFq8CIsxxi6jQOzbhB6E”]Speaking to Citi News after her nomination, Gloria Akuffo promised to deal expeditiously with judgment debt cases when she is finally approved by Parliament.

“Government owns debt all over the country…Where we know that there is debt which we cannot contest…we will immediately try to engage and find the money even if we have to reach terms.  Sometimes these are left on the books, they are contested in court, sometimes they are not contested, judgment is entered [and] interest is running. I would want to have the complete list.”

“Sometimes we are flying the big cases such as Woyome, but it may turn out, I don’t know for certain, that there may be others that are also on the book, I would want to have the list of those, see which ones are contestable and which ones are not to the view of immediately resolving those ones that we cannot contest, and make recommendations for payments, and for those that we have a defense that we need to contest successfully to do so. But it’s important that we get to know the full list of what is on the books by way of judgment debt,” she added.

About Gloria Akuffo

Gloria Afua Akuffo is 62 years old. She attended the University of Ghana and obtained a joint degree in Law and Political Science in 1979. She qualified as a lawyer from the Ghana School of Law in 1982 and she has been on the roll of lawyers of the Ghana Bar for 34 years.

She started her private practice from Ameyi Chambers, a firm of lawyers, in Accra and was a founding partner of Owusu-Yeboa, Akuffo & Associates. Presently she practices from Blay & Associates. She is an Arbitrator at the Ghana Arbitration Centre and is also on the list of arbitrators of the National Labour Commission.

From 2001 to 2004, she served as the first female Deputy Attorney-General of Ghana, the first 2 years of which were under the Attorney General of the time, Nana Akufo-Addo.

She was appointed the first female Deputy Greater-Accra Regional Minister in 2005. In 2006, she set up a Ministry of Aviation, having been appointed the first Minister for the sector.

She is a Private Legal Practitioner and an Arbitrator.

She has two children.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I’ll deal with judgment debt cases – Attorney General nominee appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The drill ship, Discoverer 511, belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) was sold to defray a 19.5 million dollar judgment debt owed Societe-General Bank in 2001.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YYr7vrtmSk6MbrnX5VeLi2WAdl3JbkCz”]Akufo-Addo, under whose tenure the drill ship was sold was cited for causing financial loss to the state in the Sole Commission’s report, the commission established by the National Democratic Congress government to investigate judgment debt the state had paid over the years.

The report also directed the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to also investigate K.T. Hammond, a former Deputy Energy Minister on how he disbursed US$900,000 which was left after the sale of the drill ship.

Speaking at the Meet the Press session in Accra on Monday, Dr. Omane Boamah accused Akufo-Addo of not defending the state hence the sale of the drill ship.

“Talking about judgment debt, Nana’s failure to defend Ghana’s interest in the case of the Ghana National Petroleum Drillship’s matter Discoverer 511 also has serious implications and brings into sharp focus his personal lack of commitment, dexterity and competence to pursue the interest of the state and the tax payer. And this is why we have maintained that it serves no fruitful purpose if we play political football with judgment debt.”

Dr. Omane Boamah at the event touted President John Mahama’s achievements in fighting corruption and preventing further judgment debt payments in Ghana.

“…The NPP led by Nana Akufo-Addo and their surrogates will not win such a contest because President Mahama’s record on fighting judgment debt is superior and better. Tell me, in all the things that they have said, where have they nailed president Mahama right at the centre in any of these matters. The slightest attempt could not be sustained at the Supreme Court and it was expunged,” he added.

The Minister also hinted that government has saved the state from incurring close to one billion dollars in judgment debt payments

“President Mahama’s government has fought cases of judgment debts and potential judgment debts more vigorously than previous governments. In less than four years we have successfully defended and saved Ghana over one billion dollars…”

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Omane Boamah attacks Nana Addo over drill ship saga appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“The Government has issued a directive to SSNIT to use our pension funds to acquire a 24% stake in this phantom Woyome project,” the group alleged.

OccupyGhana had earlier raised red flag over a lucrative GHc35 million deal Woyome benefited from the state, through its subsidiary company, Anotor Holding.

[contextly_sidebar id=”u0LkveC7Z4OIcF62XBcFoB9RzgErIOVl”]According to OccupyGhana, there exists a framework agreement dated 21st December 2015, for Anator Holding to develop deep seaports (including) industrial parks and green townships in Ghana, and called on government to abrogate the contract until Woyome pays the full GHc51 million judgment debt unlawfully paid him.

A recent statement from OccupyGhana however said government has been silent on the matter.

“We must also point out that, the Framework Agreement entered into between the Government and Woyome’s Anator Holding Company Limited, is silent on this alleged 24% stake in a joint venture. The question to be asked is why the Framework Agreement fails to mention such a critical material particular? These are the matters that have led us to conclude that the Framework Agreement is illegal and a nullity, at the very least, on the ground of material non-disclosure.”

The group further called on government to make public the matter, and also warned SSNIT “not to consider, even for a moment, to use the pension funds of Ghanaians to fund this latest phantom Woyome project.”

Below is the full statement from OccupyGhana:

28th NOVEMBER, 2016 OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT

OCCUPYGHANA® WARNS SSNIT AGAINST FUNDING NEW WOYOME DEAL

OccupyGhana® has noted that its last Press Release on the above-matter has been met with silence from government officials, and two farcical denials of there even being an agreement: one by Woyome and another by Mr. Selby, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport. We have rebutted this by posting the agreement on our website.

Our further review of the documents since that Press Release reveal even more disturbing facts that Ghanaians must know about, one of which is this:

The Government has issued a directive to SSNIT to use our pension funds to acquire a 24% stake in this phantom Woyome project.

The documents in our possession show that sometime in 2009, in a scheme similar to the Stadium matters which led to the first scam, Woyome managed to convince government officials that he could establish what he called “Green Townships” in Ghana. This concept, at the time, was allegedly to provide solar power and 20,000 houses for some Urban Renewal Project, which was to be “replicated and adapted to agriculture, mining or manufacturing communities.”
It made fantastic and unsubstantiated claims of providing 12,000 permanent jobs and 30,000 construction jobs for two years, and would “lift over 200,000 people above the poverty line, including residents and workers on the project.”

Woyome managed to get the Finance Minister at the time, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, to write a letter dated 15th December, 2009 to “in principle accept participation stake holding of 24% in the joint venture.”

That letter was however clear that the Government was going to subject the proposal to further discussion with relevant stakeholders, leading to formal negotiations towards a definitive agreement. The letter was also clear that a final position on all aspects of the project would only be arrived at after discussions with all stakeholders, subject also to Cabinet and Parliamentary approvals.

It appears to us that this matter cooled off for several years while Woyome battled us in court over the GH¢51.2M that was unconstitutionally and fraudulently paid to him. By the time Woyome re-surfaced in 2014, what was a “Green Townships” project had transformed and ballooned into a huge Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project designed to do practically everything under the sun: electricity, deep sea ports, roads, railways, hospitals, factories, agriculture, mining, archaeological findings.

You just name the project, and Woyome was going to do it.

On 19th August 2016, Woyome’s consultant, Albert Essamuah Associates Limited, now claiming to have been appointed as the Government’s consultants (and we are yet to see evidence of any such appointment), wrote to the Chief of Staff demanding the latter “to issue an urgent directive from your august office, to SSNIT through its Board Chairman, to take up the 24% stakeholding of the Government of Ghana in the Project SEZ on behalf of the people of Ghana.” This letter also revealed that “when the construction of the Port commences the value will escalate to over US$25 Billion.”

Although this letter was disingenuously silent about the value of the alleged 24% stake that SSNIT was to be directed to acquire, what is apparent is that either SSNIT or the Government was expected by Woyome to fork out a colossal 24% of US$25B for that acquisition.

That is a whopping $6 billion!

So, what Dr. Duffuor had clearly stated as an “in principle acceptance” with several approval conditions was, after the illegal Framework Agreement was signed between Woyome and Dzifa Attivor, being represented to the Chief of Staff as a firm commitment to acquire a 24% stake in the phantom project.

We are satisfied to note that the Chief of Staff asked for a legal opinion from the Attorney-General, not on whether or not Ghana had committed to acquire that 24% stake (which would be false), but on whether the government could issue the directive to SSNIT as demanded by Woyome.

An opinion dated 30th September 2016 and signed by Dr. Dominic Ayine, Deputy Attorney-General stated that the Chief of Staff “can issue directives with respect to SSNIT to take up the 24% stake in the Project,” but “subject to compliance with the investment guidelines established by the National Pensions Act (2008).” We are satisfied that this opinion did not bind SSNIT to taking up the alleged 24% stake. However, we are concerned that in one part of the opinion, it is stated that “this is a proposed stake as opposed to an actual stake,” while another part claims that “Government has accepted the proposal [to take a 24% stake in the project] per the letter from the Ministry of Finance dated December 15, 2009…”

As pointed out above Dr. Duffuor’s letter of 15th December 2009 was heavily qualified, and none of the conditions contained in it had occurred. There is no obligation on Government to take that undefined 24% stake. Yet, this was now being packaged almost as a done-deal, and being foisted on SSNIT.

This is how Woyome works. That is how he ended up claiming and collecting GH¢51.2M from Ghana for no work done. The 19th August 2016 letter from his consultant betrays this, and we are horrified that our government and its officials are tolerating this obvious scam for even a day.

We must also point out that the Framework Agreement entered into between the Government and Woyome’s Anator Holding Company Limited, is silent on this alleged 24% stake in a joint venture. The question to be asked is why the Framework Agreement fails to mention such a critical material particular? These are the matters that have led us to conclude that the Framework Agreement is illegal and a nullity, at the very least, on the ground of material non-disclosure.

We call on the government to declare publicly that it is not bound by this illegal Framework Agreement. We call on the government to publicly renounce and repudiate that document, as well as all other steps that have been taken on the back of it. We call on SSNIT not to consider, even for a moment, to use the pension funds of Ghanaians to fund this latest phantom Woyome project.

In the coming days, we will show to Ghanaians even more shocking aspects of this matter. If Ghanaians do not arise to occupy their democratic space, public officials, either through negligence or complicity, will engage in shady and dodgy deals that would cost the nation money that we do not have and should not be spending.

Yours, for God and Country,

OccupyGhana®

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Stay away from Woyome’s new deal – OccupyGhana warns SSNIT appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Supreme Court gave the order after Martin Amidu prayed it to allow him examine Woyome following the discontinuance of the case by the Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong ,despite serving an earlier notice to do same.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Pqld8ES9YYhNfIZJrMWNC1UlLd7LpfGE”]The Court in its ruling by Justice Anin Yeboah explained that it upheld Mr. Amidu’s application because it was in accordance with “article 2 of the 1992 Constitution” which gives “every citizen of Ghana the right to invoke this court’s original jurisdiction when the necessity arises.”

Justice Yeboah further observed that the Attorney General had taken too long in retrieving the GHc51 million from Woyome, despite a court order about two years ago.

He also noted that the money would also not benefit Mr. Amidu but the Republic of Ghana hence his ruling.

“Given the circumstances of this case, the colossal amount of the judgment debt, and the fact that for more than two years (since 29/07/2014) no serious effort has been made to levy execution and no execution process is pending in court, I am prepared to offer an opportunity to the Plaintiff/Application to proceed accordingly to execute the judgment as a party who initiated the action for the benefit of all the citizens of Ghana. My liberal approach to article 2 of the Constitution 1992 would, in my view, substantially advance the course of justice in this case. After all, any money that may be realized from the execution is entirely for the Republic of Ghana and the Plaintiff/Applicant does not, indeed, stand to benefit directly from it.”

“The application is thus granted and the 3rd Defendant/Respondent herein Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome is hereby ordered to appear before me in this Court on Thursday, the 24th of November 2016 at 10:00 in the forenoon to be examined orally on oath by the Plaintiff/Applicant herein,” he added.

Click here for the full rulling

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Supreme Court ruling on Woyome’s oral examination [Full text] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Amidu, who has been permitted by the Supreme Court to orally examine Mr. Woyome on his repayment plan, said he does not understand why EOCO, which was not a party to the case in court, should be the body receiving the money.

“The people of Ghana should demand to know from Government how its Attorney General in enforcing the order of the Supreme Court for Woyome to refund the unconstitutional payments made to him to the Republic of Ghana – accept a cheque of GHC4,000,000.00 drawn by Woyome dated 4^th November 2016 in favour of the Economic and Organized Crime Office as part payment of the monies ordered by the Court to be refunded,” Mr. Amidu stated in a statement copied citifmonline.com.

GHc4 million payment cooked up

There are reports that Mr. Woyome has returned GHc4 million out of the GHc51 million paid him as judgment debt; but the Amidu believes that “the whole scheme appears to have been cooked to defeat my application for leave to examine Woyome orally on oath.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”v5nlGhYnqA9KXqlnh5TWTF5kKFrg9jif”]“I say with all the strength at my disposal that, a cheque drawn by Woyome in favour of the Economic and Organized Crime Office, which was not a party to the action or the judgment creditor, cannot be a cheque in part payment of the unconstitutional monies ordered by the Court to be refunded to the Republic. The acceptance of the Economic and Organized Crime Office cheque by the Attorney General and the deception of the public by the Attorney General that it is part payment for the refund ordered by the Court, brings into question the competence of the Attorney General and the Government in pursuit of the interest of the Republic,” he added.

Martin Amidu, also known as Citizen Vigilante, released the statement on the back of a permission granted him by the Supreme Court to orally examine Mr. Woyome, after the Attorney General who had applied to do the orally examination, discontinued the application.

Brouhaha over GHc51 million booty

Alfred Woyome was paid ¢51 million after he claimed that he helped Ghana to raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money after Mr. Martin Amidu challenged the legality of the payments in court.

Meanwhile several efforts by the Attorney General to retrieve the GHc51 million including selling his property to defray the debt has proved futile.

Vote out Mahama or forget the case

Mr. Amidu in the statement also admonished Ghanaians to vote out President John Mahama on December 7 else the money will not be recouped.

“I am a senior and foundation member of the NDC, the Governing party. But I am compelled to put Ghana First and to defend the 1992 Constitution by saying that the only way Ghanaians can have the Woyome/Austro-Invest joint loot refunded is to change the Government that created, looted and shared the loot with them during the Presidential elections this year.” “A new Government will prosecute Woyome under Article 2(3) and (4) of the 1992 Constitution for High Crime should he delay any further in refunding the unconstitutional loot. The new Government will also enforce the Waterville judgment debt of over Euro 47million loot or prosecute it for High Crime,” he added.

Below is the full statement from Martin Amidu:

GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO RECOVER THE WOYOME/AUSTRO-INVEST LOOT: IT IS ALL JUST ELECTIONEERING CAMPAIGN – BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

Does the Ghana Government believe us to be so easily fooled that they concoct Woyome part payments of the judgment debt as smoke and mirrors for their election campaign?

The people of Ghana should demand to know from Government how its Attorney General can – in enforcing the order of the Supreme Court for Woyome to refund the unconstitutional payments made to Woyome to the Republic of Ghana – accept a cheque of GHC4,000,000.00 drawn by Woyome dated 4^th November 2016 in favour of the Economic and Organized Crime Office as part payment of the monies ordered by the Court to be refunded.

The Attorney General accepted the Economic and Organized Crime Office cheque from Woyome and gave a receipt acknowledging the payment “as part payment for the Judgment Debt of GHC51, 283,483.59.” The Access Bank (GH) East Cant cheque number 890081 and the Attorney General’s receipt which were exhibited to the Attorney General’s affidavit sworn by the Attorney General herself on 9^th November 2016 as Exhibits “AG 7” and “AG7A” are attached herewith in PDF for the public to judge how any Attorney General, worth the name, can accept a cheque drawn on the Economic and Organized Crime Office which was not party to the action as part payment of the refund ordered by the Court on 29^th July 2014 for the Republic.

I say with all the strength at my disposal that a cheque drawn by Woyome in favour of the Economic and Organized Crime Office, which was not a party to the action or the judgment creditor, cannot be a cheque in part payment of the unconstitutional monies ordered by the Court to be refunded to the Republic. The acceptance of the Economic and Organized Crime Office cheque by the Attorney General and the deception of the public by the Attorney General that it is part payment for the refund ordered by the Court brings into question the competence of the Attorney General and the Government in pursuit of the interest of the Republic.

The whole scheme appears to have been cooked to defeat my application for leave to examine Woyome orally on oath. In the hurry of the Government and Woyome to defeat my application they could not even cover their tracks with a cheque drawn on the Ministry of Finance or the Accountant-General as custodian of the consolidated fund. The cheque could also have been drawn on the Registrar of the Supreme Court and paid into court for the Republic.

The foregoing is evidence, if evidence be needed, that the Attorney General and the Government are determined to kill the non-refund of the judgment debt as an election issue by cooking up the deceptive cheque and receipt to allow the status quo to continue. They are purposefully deceiving the electorate that efforts are being made to retrieve the unconstitutional loot by Woyome jointly with Austro-Invest, the client of Lithur-Brew and Co, a law firm in which the Attorney General was a partner.  The law firm is also the President’s personal lawyer.

I am a senior and foundation member of the NDC, the Governing party. But I am compelled to put Ghana First and to defend the 1992 Constitution by saying that the only way Ghanaians can have the Woyome/Austro-Invest joint loot refunded is to change the Government that created, looted and shared the loot with them during the Presidential elections this year. A new Government will prosecute Woyome under Article 2(3) and (4) of the 1992 Constitution for High Crime should he delay any further in refunding the unconstitutional loot. The new Government will also enforce the Waterville judgment debt of over Euro 47million loot or prosecute it for High Crime.

This is the only way out for Ghanaians to stand up for their Constitutional rights and to retrieve the unconstitutional monies created, looted and shared by this Government with its political party supporters who are now unconstitutional judgment debtors to the Republic. As a loyal NDC member, I will support most of my political party’s parliamentary candidates who have shown honesty and integrity to the Constitution. But I cannot in good conscience and in defence of the Constitution support its Presidential candidate to continue leading the looting of the public purse.

Fellow patriotic citizens, I fought for two long years for justice for the Constitution and for all of us and the Supreme Court eventually vindicated the public’s interest by ordering the refund of the unconstitutional loot to the Republic of Ghana. Unfortunately, the Government as the leading looter has put obstacles in our way in enforcing the orders of the Court. Fellow citizens, help me in the name of the Constitution to retrieve your money that was looted by voting for a new President. Let us protect our Constitutional rights and not be hoodwinked by electioneering ploys. Let us get our GHC51, 283, 483. 59 back.

Defend the 1992 Constitution by voting for a new President on 7^th December 2016 to get our money back. God bless Ghana and put Ghana First!

Martin A. B. K. Amidu

15^th November 2016

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Woyome’s GHc4M payment to EOCO ‘cooked up’ story – Amidu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Woyome, who argues that he has been vilified for long, said although he will pay the money, he will “pursue this matter with the last drop of my blood until justice is served.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”f6Ita2pQbzQrgwvUa1TPUL9mHi7Vqj6F”]Alfred Woyome was paid ¢51 million after he claimed that he helped Ghana to raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.

Mr. Woyome was indicted by an Auditor General’s report released in 2010 which said the amount was paid illegally to him and the Supreme Court in 2014, ordered him to refund the money.

However, the businessman is yet to pay the amount after some efforts were made by the Attorney General to retrieve it proved futile.

But speaking to the media on Wednesday after the Supreme Court granted former Attorney General Martin Amidu permission to orally examine him; Mr. Woyome claimed he is being persecuted by the Supreme Court.

“I feel that the Supreme Court is persecuting me,” he lamented.

I’ve silent majority supporters

“The question is the propaganda, the lies, vilification on a fellow citizen like yours is too much. Five years is enough, if there were any iota of truth they should have gotten it. It is enough. It has affected my family, myself, church members, many people and I can tell you that majority of Ghanaians who are the silent people are with me in this matter. And I think that it is time for us to understand what is good for us, what we should fight for, if you keep quite it is coming to you. Because a Supreme Court judgment is not binding on Alfred Woyome, it is binding on all citizens no matter how it is,” he added.

I disagree with Supreme Court ruling 

The businessman stated that, he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Martin Amidu, to orally examine him in court.

“Martin [Amidu] could go ahead if he has the legal strength to tell the whole public as to what he knew as an attorney general working with EOCO; how those monies were expended. But for the sake of the law, and for the sake of the constitution of the republic of Ghana, I disagree totally with today’s ruling and I will do whatever I can to see to it that justice is done in this case.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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