The sudden resurfacing of the fraudulent payment made to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) bankroller, Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the name of judgement debt, appears to be causing anxiety in the ruling party a few days to the December 7 elections.
The NDC is struggling to rope in the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the judgement debt conundrum, with the allegation that he also superintended over similar payments, citing the drill ship saga.
NDC Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, yesterday went to town throwing caution to the wind and in a desperate attempt, asked the media why they were not interested in other judgement debt cases but Woyome’s GH¢51.2 million.
The government is not happy that suddenly, Woyome’s case has bounced back and hanging on its neck like the sword of Damocles.
Speaking at a ‘Meet The Press’ series in Accra, the communications minister said, “John Mahama’s commitment to retrieving money paid illegally to individuals, including Woyome, remains unabated.”
Dr Omane Boamah says government is committed to retrieving the controversial GH¢51.2 million dubiously paid to the embattled NDC businessman, Alfred Woyome.
He wonders why Nana Akufo-Addo had been left free over the drillship, saying the NPP leader failed to defend the country when he was Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Nana Akufo-Addo has promised to retrieve the Woyome cash and other judgement debts paid fraudulently, if voted for on December 7.
Even though the drill ship – Discoverer 511 – belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) was sold to defray a $19.5 million judgment debt owed Societe-General Bank in 2001. Omane Boamah claimed the money was $48 million.
“Talking about judgment debt, Nana’s failure to defend Ghana’s interest in the case of the Ghana National Petroleum Drillship’s matter, Discovery 511, also has serious implications and brings into sharp focus his personal lack of commitment, dexterity and competence to pursue the interest of the state and the tax payer. And this is why we have maintained that it serves no fruitful purpose if we play political football with judgment debt,” Dr Boamah pointed out.
According to him, the government has a better record in retrieving illegal monies, including Mr. Woyome’s.
“President Mahama has demonstrated the will to protect the public purse and this finds expression in the over $1 billion saving achieved,” according to the Communication Minister.
The Woyome case bounced back following attempts by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu – the man who secured court judgement for the refund of the money paid to the NDC businessman- to quiz Woyome as to how the gargantuan money paid to him was spent.
The Supreme Court had already granted Martin Amidu the chance to examine Mr Woyome on the matter after he (Amidu) had been given a favourable ruling in connection with an application to that effect.
Accusations
NPP leaders have on several occasions accused government of corruption and poor governance, demanding that it must be booted out of power on December 7.
However, outlining what he described as “lies” by Nana and Bawumia, Omane Boamah said “On December 9, 2014, Nana Akufo-Addo lied about the cost of the Kasoa Interchange and insisted it has been inflated when speaking at the Alhaji Aliu Mahama Memorial Lectures.
“On October 19, 2015, Nana Akufo-Addo lied about some $10 million spent by government to print diaries, which is false. On October 21, 2015, He [Akufo-Addo] claimed at a gathering in Amsterdam that government and the Electoral Commission (EC) were scheming to rig the 2016 elections. He provided no proof.”
“On February 29, 2016, he [Akufo-Addo] lied that the Ridge Hospital project had been bloated by $142 million, yet another falsehood”.
Meanwhile, Nana Akomea, NPP Director of Communications, said the minister should bring out the figures to disclaim what Nana Addo said.
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