A group calling itself the Movement of United Ghanaians Abroad (MUGA) has served notice of its intention to hit the streets of six countries in Europe and America to protest against the Mills' administration's handling of the Woyome scandal.
MUGA believes the arrest of embattled NDC guru, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Finance, Paul Asimenu and Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh is misplaced so long as some key actors, former Attorney-General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffour who authorized and ordered payments, are still walking.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the group from their base in the United Kingdom (UK).
Below is a copy of the press release.
PREESS RELEASE BY MOVEMENT OF UNITED GHANAIANS ABROAD ON THE WOYOME SAGA
We have been following with keen interest the Judgment Debt Scandal, by far the biggest known act of financial impropriety by public officials in Ghana, our motherland, and which will forever live in infamy.
As Ghanaians living abroad who toil in sometimes very unfriendly weather conditions to support our tax paying relatives back home,
As Ghanaians living abroad who have set up businesses in Ghana to provide employment to our fellow countrymen.
As Ghanaians whose remittances to the country constitute the second highest source of foreign exchange?
We believe we have equal say on how our leaders handle our national purse just as our compatriots back home.
We regret to observe that the conduct of both political leadership and public officials in this matter is a grave betrayal of the trust reposed in them by the people of Ghana.
It has been said by President Obama that what Africa needs are strong institutions not strong men. We think, however, that without tough-minded people, institutions cannot command any strength on their own.
Democracy and good governance is not entirely about public and political institutions, but a habit of mind of the people. The Judgment Debt Scandal is a clear case of institutional failure.
We have reason to believe that there has been negligence, collusion, concealment on the part of some government officials in this Woyome affair and until the government comes clean and acts decisively on this matter without fear or favour, national spirit and national psyche will remain at a very low ebb.
Why did officials of the current government not contact former government officials when Woyome came up with his claims? This simple precautionary measure would not escape even an unlettered shopkeeper.
Who ordered the payment against the orders of the President?
Why did presidential staffers like Alex Segbefia and Akyena Brantuo move from one radio station to another justifying the payment when their employer, the state, through the Attorney General, was in court seeking to retrieve the money from Woyome?
Why did the deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton Oduro publicly state that the government had a "bad case" when his ministry was in court challenging the payment?
Why did it take a public outcry more than one year after the event before the government makes a semblance of an attempt to deal with the matter?
We can deduce from the consideration of the foregoing questions coupled with the press statement by Martin Amidu, former Attorney General and arguably the most respected politician in Ghana today, that a colleague minister was involved in the perpetration and concealment of �gargantuan crimes� against the state, that there has been a conspiracy at the highest echelons of public office to rob the state.
The continuous stay in office of Ebo Barton-Odro, Alex Segbefia, Akyena Brantuo, and Dr Kwabena Duffour, men who have acted against the national interest, is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Ghana and a betrayal of the people by the President of Ghana.
We demand an immediate dismissal of the above�named men and a thorough investigation into their assets and bank accounts.
The show of solidarity towards Alfred Woyome on his confinement by top officials of the ruling government such as the National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei and propaganda secretary, Richard Quarshiga lends credence to the deep cynicism among Ghanaians about the governments� commitment in dealing with corruption.
The arrest of Alfred Woyome, Paul Asimenu and Nerquaye-Tetteh is misplaced so long as the key actors, Betty Mould Iddrisu, Former Attorney General and Dr Kwabena Duffour, who authorized and ordered payment are still walking.
We therefore call on the government to act decisively on this matter to restore the national psyche. We wish to add our voice to calls for an investigation into all judgment debts since the inception of the fourth republic in 1993. It is becoming increasingly clear that corrupt politicians, public officers and unscrupulous individuals and companies have in concert used judgment debt as a safe way of siphoning public funds with impunity.
It is sad that at the time when many Ghanaians cannot afford two square meals a day,
It is sad that at the time when many patients are �sentenced to die� by our hospitals for lack of space,
It is sad that at a time when there are still many schools under trees,
It is sad that at a time when our leaders go aborrowing and seeking aid to develop the country,
as the first step in a series of actions to compel our government to do the right thing
A handful of people within leadership have cleverly swindled the state of money worth more than the loans we secure for national development.
We wish to advise the current Attorney General, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, that history beckons him to walk a certain path. He may choose to walk the path followed by Martin Amidu whose patriotism cost him his job but earned him an indelible and enviable place in the history books.
He (Dr Kumbour) may also opt for the course taken by other attorneys whose omissions and commissions have brought the Attorney General�s Department and themselves into disrepute and gargantuan contempt.
A good name is better than riches and party loyalty.
Finally, we wish to serve notice to the government of Ghana that if after two weeks from the date of this press release, it does not heed our calls for the dismissal of the above�named politicians and the prosecution of those who authorized the Woyome payment, we would share in the conclusion of many Ghanaians that the government�s reaction to this matter reveals a cover up at best, and complicity at worst.
We would then have no choice but to hit the streets in six countries in Europe and America to protest against the government�s handling of the Woyome scandal as the first step in a series of actions to compel our government to do the right thing.
To quote Martin Amidu, �Ghana as a nation can never and should never be allowed to be intimidated by charlatans in political disguise.�
Signed
Dr William Kwadwo Wiafe
President
Osabarima Kwasi Owusu
General Secretary
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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