Amidu withdraws Woyome suit, on the conviction that the new government as well as the new Attorney General will keep their promise of retrieving all judgement debts wrongfully paid to individuals.
Former Attorney General, Martin Amidu has withdrawn his suit to orally examine businessman Alfred Woyome over the GHC51 million judgment debt paid him by the state.
The controversial anti-corruption campaigner on Wednesday February 8, put an end to his long lasting investigations on the Woyome saga, as he told court he was pulling out of the case. Amidu explained the reason behind his withdrawal to be because of the change of government and the assurance by the new Attorney General to retrieve all judgement debts wrongfully paid to individuals.
Amidu who has been the central character in the fight that Woyome refunds the said GHC 51m to the state, also hopes that the new AG works to get to the bottom of the lingering controversy surrounding the judgment debt case.
This recent development has raised questions concerning the possible reasons behind Woyome’s withdrawal from the case -a case he had aggressively opted to follow selflessly, having raised calls of possible conspiracy and corruption.
The Woyome saga which has lasted for up to 6 years has been tagged the longest criminal hearing under the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Businessman ad NDC financier, Alfred Woyome had requested that a judgement debt of GHC 51m be paid him, for the 2008 Nations Cup stadia project he did for government.
According to reports, Alfred Woyome was paid the whopping sum. However upon the assumption of new Auditor General Martin Amidu in 2010, a report was released saying the amount was paid illegally to Woyome. Amidu then had the NDC financier arrested and charged for causing financial loss to the state.
While prosecuting the case, the then AG Martin Amidu was sacked under mysterious circumstances and Marietta Brew Hammond was appointed to succeed him. Undeterred Amidu however continued with the case even after being relieved of his duties as AG. Acting under his private capacity, Amidu secured a Supreme Court order directing Woyome to refund the GC 51m to the state, although the businessman was cleared of criminal charges.
Following delays in retrieving the money, Amidu intensified his effort to get to the bottom of the matter…
The Attorney General had come under severe pressure following delay in the retrieval of Woyome’s Judgement debt. Following aggitations by pressure group Occupy Ghana, filed a case at the Supreme Court to against Woyome, to orally examine the NDC financier on the controversial judgement debt case.
However a week after, the AG filed a notice to discontinue the application to orally examine the businessman -a development which raised questions among stakeholders.
Determined former AG Amidu, suspected a foul play on the part of the AG in regards to the sudden withdrawal of the case. This had caused him to accuse the then President John Mahama of conspiring with the AG to withdraw the case in order to cover up the corrupt practices inherent in his party.
Amidu’s suspicions then caused him to file an application requesting to personally cross examine businessman Woyome -which was granted. Supreme Court Judges had unanimously granted Amidu clearance to execute the judgement ordering the businessman to refund the cash.
In the ruling, Alfred Woyome was ordered to appear before the Supreme Court on November 24 2016, for an oral examination by Martin Amidu over the judgement debt payment. Court had also lamented over the lackadaisical attitude of judicial authorities in the handling of the case.
Amidu has however backed down on his desire to orally examine businessman Alfred Woyome over the GHC51 million judgment debt paid him by the state. Amidu withdraws Woyome suit, on the conviction that the new government as well as the new Attorney General will keep their promise of retrieving all judgement debts wrongfully paid to individuals.
Ghanaians who wish to get to the end of this rigorous case are also hoping that the Akufo-Addo-led administration will retrieve the state money which was wrongfully paid Woyome in judgement debt.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
