Woyome did not do it alone, bring others onboard the trial - NPP demands

The main opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP), has demanded that some government officials should be dragged before court over the infamous Woyomegate.

The Communications Director for NPP Nana Akomea says Woyome could not have acted alone but with others. He explained, before such an amount could be paid, a government official has to authorize and forward it to Bank of Ghana through the Controller and Accountant General's Department.

Nana Akomea who was speaking on Adom FM's Dawso Nsem programme on Wednesday inferred that since President Mills' order to stop payment of the controversial GHC51million judgment debt were ignored on two occasions, there is the tendency that some government officials whether resigned or still at post had interest to fraudulently pay the amount for reasons best known to them.

He indicated that, he saw no justification in paying such a whopping amount to the embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome who also claims to be an NDC financier for no work done.

According to Nana Akomea, since the then Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, negotiated the amount to be paid with Alfred Woyome after failing to appear and defend the State in court, she must have questions to answer. The NPP Communications Director added that, even for Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu to have brushed aside President Mills' orders stop the payment in April and September, 2010 it raises eyebrows; saying there are more questions than answers.

Touching on the new charges hanging around Woyome's neck after he was re-arrested on Tuesday, Nana Akomea made fun of the charges, “this is just like Atta Mortuary man part one, two, three and four”. He wondered why the State Prosecution will struggle to put its docket together and ensure the smooth try of the case. “It is unacceptable, laughable; this case has been called and adjourned on twelve or so times within this year alone even though they have every document available…what is holding them from dealing with this simple case”, he noted.

Nana Akomea added that he does not believe the government is interested in retrieving the controversial GHC52 million judgment debt from Woyome.

The businessman at the centre of the GHC52 million judgment debt controversy Alfred Woyome, was freed Tuesday morning after the state filed a nolle prosequi. He was however re-arrested swiftly by the Police to apparently face new charges.

Woyome now faces two counts of defrauding by false pretense and causing financial loss to the state. He pleaded not guilty to all the two counts and was immediately granted bail.

He was standing trial with three others namely, Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, his wife, Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh and Mr. Paul Asimenu, a Director at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, but due to the nolle prosequi filed by the state they were discharged. It is however not clear whether the state would re-arrest the remaining three .

In a related development, anti-corruption crusader Paul Collins Appiah Ofori has said that, he is happy with the new charges since what Woyome did amounts to financial loss to the State. He said with these two new charges, the State can rely on two documents - the Criminal Code and Financial Administration Act - which are likely to have Alfred Woyome incarcerated.

Story by Yaa Asantewaa/Adom News/Ghana