$28.5m Judgement Debt: Court Fix April 9 To Decide Whether State Should Pay

The High Court has fixed April 9, 2013 to decide whether or not to set aside the order directing the state to pay a $28.5million judgement debt to Sweater and Socks. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew-Oppong Appiah is challenging the $28.5million judgement debt that has been awarded against the state. According to the AG, no court had awarded the $28million to Sweater and Socks, the plaintiff in the case. In court on Wednesday, the high court presided over by, Mrs Justice Elizabeth Ankumah heard arguments from the state and lawyer from Sweater and Socks on the motion to set aside its earlier order to the state to pay the $28million. According to the state, the orders were void and the court did not have jurisdiction and should not have gone into the trial again. However, the lawyer for the plaintiff, Mr George Eshun argued that the court did nothing wrong in granting the $28.5million and said the court had jurisdiction. An GhȻ800 cost was awarded against the state for withdrawing an earlier motion to set aside the order directing the state to pay the $28.5million. Meanwhile, another High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Godwin Gabor adjourned its contempt ruling brought against the acting Governor of the Bank, Dr H.K. Wampah for refusing to pay the $28.5million to Sweater and Socks. The court also granted permission to the governor, Dr Wampah to absent himself from court until a date is fixed for ruling on the contempt case. Accordingly, the court fixed March 27, 2013 to consider new issues brought by the Attorney General. The State, led by Attorney General appeared before the court Wednesday and informed the court that it (State) had moved a motion before another court to set aside the very order upon which the governor is being cited for contempt.