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18.04.2014 Politics

A-G, Finance Ministry Summoned Over Judgment Debt Payment

By Daily Graphic
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-OpponAttorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppon
18.04.2014 LISTEN

The Judgment Debt Commission has subpoenaed the Attorney General's Department and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to clarify why Jamlast Company Limited was paid a judgment debt of $1,800,000 between 2011 and 2012.

Jamlast was said to have sued the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) Limited after the GCD was divested.

GCD, which is located in Akwatia in the Eastern Region, is now wholly owned by Ghanaian businesspersons and operates under the name Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL).

Payment arrangement
When he appeared before the Commission on Thursday, the Director in-charge of Internal Resource Mobilisation of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Awuah-Peasah, said he did not know whether the Attorney General's Department had defended the State in the case or not.

He said the official who handled the case had travelled outside the country, and therefore prayed the Commission to adjourn the case for that official to come and testify.

Mr Awuah-Peasah, however, told the Commission that letters the Ministry of Finance wrote to the Controller and Accountant General's Department for the payment of the judgment debt to Jamlast indicated that the money was paid in two installments.

The first release letter dated May 13, 2011, directed the Controller and Accountant General's Department to release $1 million to Jamlast, while the second letter dated May 7, 2012, asked for the release of $800,000 to Jamlast.

Attorney General's Department
Counsel for the Commission, Mr Dometi Kofi Sorpkor, told the Commission that the Attorney General's Department could not appear and had requested the case to be adjourned. The case was subsequently adjourned to May 12, 2014.

Credit: Musah Yahaya Jafaru

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