Woyome scandal: PPP Calls For Parliamentary Inquiry Into Conduct Of Barton-Odro

Ebo Barton Odro

The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has implored Parliament to investigate the conduct of First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Ebo Barton-Odro in the payment of GH¢51.2million judgment debt to businessman Alfred Woyome.

The PPP also wants the former Deputy Attorney General to resign immediately as the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North and 'never return to public service'.

The Supreme Court last week ordered Mr. Woyome to return to the State, the said amount he obtained in default judgment following the termination of contracts between the State and Waterville Holdings Limited for the construction of stadia for the CAN 2008.

However, speaking on Radio Central in Cape Coast, the 1st Deputy Speaker asserted that: 'I still stand by what I said that the state had a bad case.'

'Mr. Barton Odro should resign as MP as a sign of respect and remorse for his actions against the State when he was the Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General,' the PPP demanded in a statement issued Wednesday, August 6, 2014.

The statement which was signed by the party's National Secretary Kofi Asamoah-Siaw noted: 'This will go a long way to purge the House of such individuals especially from the leadership of the House'.

'We cannot continue to glorify persons whose actions or omissions have injured the State by giving them additional responsibilities especially in positions where they are expected to hold government or the Executive accountable'.

The statement said: 'Considering the mystery surrounding this doubtful arrangement, we are demanding an investigation and prosecution of those whose actions led to the payment of the money to Woyome. The PPP wishes to categorically reiterate that being in government is not for one's self-interest and the abuse of power. It is solely about dedicated service to God and Country'.

The PPP also congratulated the former Attorney-General Martin Amidu, for his relentless campaign at ensuring that the state recovered the amount.

'What Mr. Martin Amidu has done brings to the fore the sense of urgency required to establish an Independent Prosecutor's office separate from the Ministry of Justice. We want a separation of the Attorney General's Department from the Ministry of Justice to make the Attorney General completely independent of the Executive, to ensure accountability from elected dictatorship in the body politics of the country. We further demand this separation so that corrupt officials would not acquire political party cards as an insurance cover against prosecution'.