Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has urged President Akufo Addo’s government to pursue the controversial GHc51 million judgment debt paid businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome.
Mr. Mahama explained that, his administration could not retrieve the money because he could not have acted arbitrarily since Ghana operates a democratic system of governance. The erstwhile Mahama administration received a lot of public backlash for failing to retrieve the money for the state, with many accusing them of deliberately dolling out the cash to a man who at some point financed the ruling NDC party.
But speaking on a local South Africa radio station, Power FM, the former President expressed confidence in the Akufo-Addo-led government to continue from where he stopped.
“Under an unconstitutional government, you can just lock up someone just like that, and seize all their assets; but we live in constitutional governance and democracy, and so the law must work. And the Supreme Court has given a ruling which is being enforced. Indeed, the person involved has been pressed to pay back some of the money, and I’ve heard he’s started paying back some of the money and it is our hope that this government will continue from where we left of,” he added.
Background
Mr. Woyome was paid GHc 51 million after claiming he helped Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for the hosting of the 2008 African Cup of Nations Cup.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money, after Mr. Martin Amidu, a private individual and a former Attorney General, challenged the legality of the payment.
However, several years on, the state is yet to retrieve the money. This was after Mr. Woyome even won the suit by the state that sort to imprison him for fraud.
Mr. Mahama insisted that, his government did its best in pursuing the case.
“The Supreme has given a ruling, the lower courts have given a different ruling, the person involved is fighting the case at different levels of the court system. But the Attorney General, who left, has pursued this matter diligently and done her best in the legal means to try and protect the interest of the Ghanaian people.”
He also used the opportunity to answer critics who accused him of not showing the willpower in retrieving the money for the state saying that “we cannot be lovers of good governance but also be desirous of arbitrary justice.”
Source: citifmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
NANA YOU SAID ON SONA THAT YOU ARE IN HURRY THEN START PROCESS THE WOYOME CASE ALSO EARLY PLEASE DON,T DELAY
I don't see npp government retrieving this money for the state. It was just political mind game they play on Ghanaian voter to win power. Since Nana Addo takes office did hear him anything about this case? I petty we the ordinary voters. I think if we vote for Matin Amidu he can retrieve this money for us Lol.
Nobody can descend on JM, Onaaaaapo.
INFACT GHANA IS GHANA.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM NO COMMENT
Do you realise you have been a f.0.0.1 .i.s.h man in government. wasted the states time. M .0.d.a f.u.c.k.a
You again gave him almost 40 thousand Ghana contract on top of the gha51.0000,don't think ghanians are ***barred word***.
After abetting and conniving with him to dupe the country with such an amount, you no shame to tell the current government to retrieve the money. Or by saying the new government should continue where you left, do this wasted president wants the current government to continue playing hide and seek with this money. NDC government went around with Wayome to block all the legal loopholes in retrieving the money and with no shame someone should continue. My goodness. I always say in Ghana politics one don't need a certificate or being intelligent before being a politician. When you have loudmouth and an expect in weaving lies (Sorry Ayariga) you can function well and accepted in Ghana politics.
DON'T WORRY OO. AND YOUR FISHY BRAZIL PLANE SAGA, AND OTHER FISHY DEAL .HUH ?
Where is he hiding saying all these things? Ah, so what is leadership? Is it crazy to ask God why He gave Ghana Mahama as a leader? You signed a contract to allow $13.9m go waste in vice president residence. You wasted more than $25m on Kumasi airport upgrade, while Ethiopia built a new one with $23m. You supervised the sad SADA Saga, SUBAH, MASLOC. You hired a certain Opuni to create pain. You took Ford Expedition after awarding an unnecessary contract to a Burkinabe. How much did the Circle overpass cost, the Ameri Deal, Hajj problems? Cut Research, Teacher, nurses trainee allowances, assembled babies with sharp teeth. Now you have the moral right to say what? Oh God...