Alfred Woyome
Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has indicated that the delay tactics being employed by embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome to frustrate the state’s efforts to recoup the GH¢51.2 million dubiously paid him as judgment debt will soon end.
According to him, the state would stop at nothing to ensure the National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier fully pays the money he fraudulently received as judgment debt.
Speaking on Citi FM programme, Mr. Dame said, “The state will not relent in its efforts to recover any amount of money owed by Mr. Alfred Woyome and that all these legal maneuverings will come to an end one day. I think I’m happy that, indeed, we are beginning to see the end of the legal maneuverings by Alfred Woyome.”
Delay Tactics
Mr. Woyome and his lawyers have adopted numerous delay tactics in a bid to frustrate efforts by the state to recoup the huge amount of money paid him.
He has on many occasions filed applications seeking to halt the oral examination, evaluation of his assets and possible seizure of those property to offset the debt owed the state.
The Supreme Court dismissed many of those applications, including one asking the court to halt all attempts to retrieve the money until a determination of another related case by the African Court on Human and People’s Right in Arusha, Tanzania.
Woyome and his lawyers argued that until the African Court gives its ruling, the decision of the Supreme Court would invariably affect the decision of the African Court.
The apex court had dismissed the application, describing it as “red herring” and “further illustration of his delay mechanism.”
Identified Property
Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, indicated that the state has identified five property belonging to Woyome each worth about $1.5 million.
Collusion
Mr. Dame has accused the Receiver of defunct UT Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) of conniving with Mr. Woyome to frustrate the state in recovering the money.
The Receiver of UT Bank, Eric Nana Nipa, in his witness statement to the apex court, averred that the bank acquired the property from Mr. Woyome on April 5, 2013 and May 13, 2014 respectively.
He claimed the property at Accra Newtown was used by the businessman as collateral to secure a loan in excess of GH¢9 million from the bank.
The Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, had accused Mr Nipa of colluding with Alfred Woyome, to prevent the state from selling his property to defray the debt owed the state.
Woyome Jabs
But Mr. Woyome claims he is not colluding with UT bank, saying “this is purely propaganda by Godfred Dame. There has never been any collusion. He should stop the lies.”
By Gibril Abdul Razak