Amidu can’t retrieve Woyome cash – AG tells court

Anti-corruption campaigner, Martin Amidu’s attempt to retrieve the GHc 51 million judgement debt from embattled businessman, Alfred Woyeme via the courts, is unconstitutional, that’s according to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice.

Mr. Amidu has filed an application at the Supreme Court, praying it to allow him to examine businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, in the controversial GHc51 million judgment debt paid to him.

But the AG, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, represented in court by her deputy, Dominic Ayeni, in opposing the application, said Mr. Amidu was violating the constitution by coming to court to retrieve the money as it was only the AG’s office that was mandated by law to do so.

Mr. Ayeni also prayed the court to expunge certain parts of Mr. Amidu’s affidavit alleging that President John Mahama ordered the AG to discontinue the suit, which also sought to examine Mr. Woyome over the payment of the amount.

Background
Mr. Amidu filed an application at the Supreme Court, praying it to allow him to examine businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, in the controversial GHc51 million judgment debt paid to him.

Mr. Amidu's action followed a move by the Attorney General’s (AG) office, led by the Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, to discontinue an oral examination of Mr. Woyome, despite serving an earlier notice.

That deveopment compelled Mr. Amidu to file the application at the Supreme Court, since he is party to the case, considering that he was the first to secure the Supreme Court ruling that ordered Mr. Woyome to repay the amount.

Mr. Amidu in his application also alleged that, Mrs. Appiah-Oppong withdrew the application to examine Woyome because President John Mahama  personally gave an order .

Mr. Amidu argued that, the AG backtracked in order to protect some National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials, who benefited from the GHc51 million paid Mr. Woyome.

Background to Woyome saga
Alfred Woyome was paid GHc 51 million after he claimed to have helped raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAF 2008 Nations Cup.

Alfred Agbesi Woyome
However an Auditor General's report released in 2010, said the amount was paid illegally to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier.

The Supreme Court in 2014 subsequently ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the GHc 51 million fraudulently taken from the state, after Mr. Amidu challenged the legality of the judgment debt paid the businessman and two other companies; Waterville and Isofoton.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana